Researchers advance blood test for aggressive breast cancer

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Blood-based markers that could improve early, less invasive detection of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) have been identified by researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center. The discovery offers a potential new blood test to diagnose the disease sooner, monitor its progression and support the development of more targeted treatments for patients facing this fast-moving form of cancer. The study, published in Science Advances, was conducted in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas at Austin.

IBC is a highly aggressive type of breast cancer that has historically been difficult to distinguish from other forms because it does not show clear genetic differences.

The research team used a specialized sequencing technology to analyze RNA, or genetic instructions, found in blood samples. The work was led by Naoto Ueno, director at the UH Cancer Center, Savitri Krishnamurthy, professor of anatomic pathology at MD Anderson, and Alan Lambowitz, professor of oncology at UT Austin. By examining both tumor and blood samples, the researchers identified signals that may improve the detection and monitoring of inflammatory breast cancer.

In the past, identifying specific markers for IBC has been challenging because the disease closely resembles other cancers in standard tests. In this study, researchers used a specialized sequencing method known as TGIRT, which is better at capturing complex and fragmented genetic material. The findings suggest that doctors may eventually be able to monitor the disease through simple blood tests rather than tissue biopsies. The markers could also help guide the development of new therapies tailored to this aggressive cancer.

Ueno and associate researcher Xiaoping Wang of the UH Cancer Center initiated the collaboration that led to the discovery.

"The project began with simple curiosity and a lot of hard work," said Ueno. "I first heard about this technology from a friend and was inspired by Dr. Lambowitz's vision. At first, many people didn't think we could find biological differences between this cancer and others just by looking at a blood sample."

Despite early skepticism from colleagues who questioned the project's potential due to the rarity and aggressive nature of inflammatory breast cancer, Ueno and Wang continued their work. Their success underscores the importance of teamwork and persistence in advancing understanding of the disease and developing more effective treatments.

Wang added, "Our discussions with Dr. Lambowitz's team helped us better understand the findings and improve the experiments along the way. Together with support from the clinical team at MD Anderson, these efforts ultimately led to the discovery of a promising blood biomarker that may help diagnose this aggressive and deadly disease."

The research was funded by the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, The Welch Foundation, the UT MD Anderson Morgan Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, and the State of Texas Rare and Aggressive Breast Cancer Research Program.

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About The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center

The University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center is dedicated to saving lives in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. It is inspiring hope by working to conquer cancer. The flagship priority is to understand and address cancer health disparities. The center strives to achieve this through research, education, patient care, and community outreach, focusing on the unique and diverse ethnic, cultural, and environmental characteristics of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

The UH Cancer Center is one of only 73 institutions designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), representing a significant mark of excellence, and is the only NCI-designated cancer center in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. The center contributes more than $57 million to Hawai'i's economy through scientific research, clinical trials, and other activities.

As part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, the UH Cancer Center operates out of facilities located in Kakaʻako. The center directly employs more than 300 faculty and staff, with an additional 200 affiliate members and cooperative agreements with organizations that are part of the Hawaiʻi Cancer Consortium. The consortium includes The Queen's Health Systems, Hawaiʻi Pacific Health, Kuakini Medical Center, Adventist Health Castle, Hilo Benioff Medical Center, Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), and the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM), all working together with the UH Cancer Center to advance cancer research and treatment in the state.

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