Faster, More Accurate Breast Cancer Testing Now Available, Published in ‘Small Methods’
CHEONAN, SOUTH KOREA – A new diagnostic technology dramatically reduces the time required to assess HER2-positive breast cancer, a especially aggressive form of the disease, from several days to under one hour. The breakthrough, detailed in the prestigious journal Small Methods (Impact Factor 10.7), promises quicker, more accurate treatment decisions for patients.
HER2-positive breast cancer requires targeted therapy due to its rapid spread, but current diagnostic methods rely on subjective interpretation, often yielding ambiguous results and lengthy wait times. A team led by Professor Jang Si-hyung of Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Professor Lee Jung-yeon of Hanyang University Medical School, and Professor Han Han-seok of Seoul National University Hospital, alongside Optorain’s Lee Do-young, has developed a solution utilizing Optorain’s ‘Digital Real-time PCR (DRPCR)’ technology. This converts the traditionally reader-dependent microscopic analysis into an automated,electronically monitored process.
Clinical trials involving 398 breast cancer patients demonstrated the technology’s superior speed and accuracy. Notably, approximately 20% of patients initially classified as HER2-positive via traditional methods were reclassified through DRPCR testing. Furthermore,patients identified as HER2-positive using DRPCR and receiving pre-surgical chemotherapy achieved a complete pathological complete response (pCR) rate of 70% or higher – significantly exceeding the 57% rate observed with existing tests.
“Objective and rapid assessment has helped to help patient customized treatment,” stated Professor Jang Si-hyung. “It is expected to be useful not only for patients with HER2 but also for low-bulging patients.”
The technology’s potential extends beyond HER2-positive diagnoses, offering hope for improved treatment strategies across a broader range of breast cancer cases.
