As reported by the BBC, thousands of women diagnosed with breast cancer could be spared chemotherapy under a new approach that uses genetic testing to identify those unlikely to benefit from the treatment
Researchers from University College London led an international trial involving more than 4,000 patients over the age of 40 from six countries, including the UK, Australia and Sweden.
The findings suggest that around two-thirds of patients can achieve similarly strong outcomes with hormone therapy alone, avoiding the physical toll often associated with chemotherapy.
To identify those patients, scientists used a test called Prosigna, which examines patterns across 50 cancer-related genes and estimates the likelihood of the disease returning.
Participants classified as low risk did not receive chemotherapy. Five years later, their survival rate was 93.7%, only marginally below the 94.9% recorded among those who underwent chemotherapy as part of their treatment.
While surgery remains the cornerstone of breast cancer care, chemotherapy is commonly used as an additional safeguard against recurrence. However, it can bring a range of side effects, from exhaustion and sickness to fertility complications and immune suppression.
Researchers believe the new testing approach could help more than 5,000 NHS patients each year avoid treatment that may offer little added benefit.
The results will be unveiled at the annual conference of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago.
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