Researchers at the University of Sheffield are developing a blood test to predict the risk of breast cancer spreading to the bone and becoming incurable.
The project is led by the University of Sheffield’s translational medical oncology professor, Janet Brown.
It has received over £390,000 from the ‘Breast Cancer Now’ initiative to explore early signs of secondary breast cancer in the bone by examining specific proteins in the blood.
Previous research by Professor Brown’s team identified 16 proteins produced by breast cancer cells poised to spread to bones.
Janet Brown said: “Secondary breast cancer is currently incurable. And when secondary tumours form in the bone, they can cause debilitating symptoms and reduce people’s quality of life.
“This can occur months or even years after treatment, and there’s currently no way to know who this will affect.
“My team’s working on creating a blood test to predict the risk of future breast cancer spreading to the bone, so that we can better support people at higher risk, while sparing those at lower risk from unnecessary treatments.”
The current study will analyse up to 400 blood samples from individuals with primary breast cancer who participated in two large clinical trials.
The participants were monitored for five to 10 years to determine if they developed secondary breast cancer.
Using advanced computational techniques, researchers aim to identify which combination of the 16 proteins most accurately predicts secondary breast cancer in the bone.
They aim to develop a straightforward test comprising three to five key proteins to help doctors assess individual risk, potentially advancing breast cancer monitoring and treatment.
Alyson Diggle, a retired district nurse from Rochdale, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2024 after experiencing hip pain for over three years.
Her diagnosis underscores the importance of research in understanding and managing secondary breast cancer risk.
Alyson said: “This blood test could have been helpful to me and provided me with some evidence when I went to see my doctor, otherwise there’s a risk you can go in feeling like a paranoid patient.
“I don’t think I stuck my head in the sand, I’m realistic, but after completing my treatment for primary breast cancer, a recurrence was the last thing I thought about.
“I’m still here because of the medication I’m on a CDK4/6 inhibitor called ribociclib which blocks the cancer and stops it in its tracks. Five years ago, that medication wasn’t available – it’s only available today because of research.”
The research aligns with the University of Sheffield’s cancer research strategy, which focuses on preventing cancer-related deaths through high-quality research.
It leads to improved treatments, prevention, detection, and quality of life enhancements.
Breast Cancer Now chief scientific officer Dr Simon Vincent said: “A secondary breast cancer diagnosis can have a devastating impact on people’s lives, yet we still can’t predict who it will affect.
“This research is a vital step forward in changing that and could allow those at higher risk to receive more personalised treatment and monitoring, helping people who have been treated for breast cancer to live happy healthy lives without fear of the disease coming back.”
