False negative breast cancer tests may lead to wrong treatment choice
Breast cancer is a major concern for many women in the U.S. and affects millions of people each year.
Breast cancer is a major concern for many women in the U.S. and affects millions of people each year. Over the years, new treatments have emerged to help reduce the progression of this disease. Many patients who buy Tamoxifen or other established drugs have reported positive effects on their well-being and quality of life.
Recently, a study from the Yale University Cancer Center revealed that up to 20 percent of breast cancers classified as estrogen receptor (ER) negative are actually positive, and that such errors could lead to the administration of the wrong drugs for patients.
These findings are published in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Lead author David Rimm and his colleagues reported that using fluorescent detection in conjunction with standard controls can be a more sensitive test that helps reduce errors in diagnosis.
"Our research shows that the conventional methods of measurement of ER may result in a 10 to 20 percent false negative rate," Rimm explained. "This may be leading to under-treatment of breast cancer patients and we may be missing the opportunity to use one of our best drugs, Tamoxifen, due to inadequate testing."
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