International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

US researchers have identified a number of genes associated with recurring breast cancer, it has been reported.

According to an article published in the Nature Medicine journal, a small number of overexpressed and amplified genes from chromosome 8q22, connected to early disease recurrence, have been discovered.

The article claimed that "a considerable proportion of women" suffer recurrent cancer at distant metastatic sites despite adjuvant treatment, but the discovery could improve their chances of beating the disease.

A spokesperson for UK charity Against Breast Cancer said that the research may help patients to avoid receiving ineffectual treatment.

"If confirmed, [the] discovery seems an important step forward. The blunderbuss approach of using chemotherapy is over," she added.

"This observation needs to be confirmed on a larger number of patients before bringing it to the clinic."

According to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, around 46,000 women are diagnosed with the disease each year in the UK alone.

Posted by David Smith