Blood test hints at breast-tumour response to treatment

Researchers have identified a blood-based biomarker that can predict which patients with certain types of breast cancer are more likely to respond to immune-based therapy, according to a study highlighted by Nature. The finding could help clinicians personalize immunotherapy decisions, sparing non-responders from ineffective treatment and its associated side effects. Predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response in breast cancer have been a major unmet need, as checkpoint inhibitors benefit only a subset of patients. If validated in larger prospective trials, this blood test could become a practical tool for treatment selection in clinical oncology practice. The work represents a meaningful step toward precision oncology in breast cancer immunotherapy.