New Method to Determine Whether Breast Cancer Treatment Is Working - East Idaho News

New Method to Determine Whether Breast Cancer Treatment Is Working

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GETTY 101413 breastcancer?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1381800338886iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Researchers may have found a way to reduce the amount of time required to determine whether treatment for breast cancer is working, using a simple biopsy to diminish the grueling time period some patients undergo treatment without knowing whether the treatment if effective.

Researchers in Philadelphia have determined that they can analyze biopsied cancer cells using “optimal imaging technology” to allow them to detect even minute chances in the disease. In fact, the new method could allow researchers to see changes down to the molecule.

The study, published in the journal Cancer Research, found that in as few as two days, researchers were able to observe responses to treatment.

Currently, tumors are analyzed using large scans like PET scans, in which change is only seen after more than three months.
 
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