Israeli Scientists Develop Blood Test for Early Breast Cancer Detection

An international team of researchers, led by scientists from the Weizmann Institute and the Hebrew University, has developed an experimental blood test capable of detecting early-stage breast cancer with 95% accuracy. The test also predicts the risk of the disease returning after treatment with 81% accuracy. The findings were published in the scientific journal "Nature" and reported by "The Times of Israel." The project involved physicians from a medical center in Rehovot and experts from several European countries and the United States.

The new method analyzes epigenetic changes, which are chemical modifications that regulate gene activity without altering DNA sequences. These changes occur early in tumor development and act as reliable molecular markers. Dr. Efrat Shema highlighted that the test's high effectiveness was observed regardless of breast tissue density, which is particularly beneficial for women for whom traditional mammography is less informative.

To validate the approach, researchers examined nucleosomes, DNA and protein complexes released into the bloodstream from disintegrating cells. They employed highly sensitive fluorescence microscopy and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze thousands of these elements. Blood samples from patients confirmed the system's ability to accurately distinguish between early-stage cancer patients and healthy individuals, as well as to assess the risk of potential recurrence.

The developers emphasize that the technique is still in the experimental phase and requires further validation on larger patient groups before clinical implementation. However, the results offer new possibilities not only for rapid diagnosis but also for developing treatments that could limit the aggressive properties of tumor cells.