A new study conducted at the University College London, UK, found a new marker that has the capacity to help diagnose fatal breast cancer up to one year earlier than existing methods. According to Professor Martin Widschwendter, the study’s corresponding author, the study provides proof for the first time that serum DNA methylation markers like EFC#93 provide a highly specific indicator that has the capability to detect fatal breast cancers up to one year in advance of current diagnosis. “This may enable individualized treatment, which could even begin in the absence of radiological evidence in the breast,” he added. He stated , " In comparison, mammography screening has a specificity of 88-92% but leads to very substantial over-diagnosis, which means that tumors are detected that would never have caused any clinical symptoms. Subject to further study, using cell-free DNA as a marker, as we have done here, is a promising way of avoiding this issue. "
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