ULTRA-SENSITIVE blood tests could save lives by identifying if breast cancer is likely to return years in advance, say scientists.
The biopsy pinpoints tumour DNA in cells left behind after treatment which conventional follow-up scans miss because there are so few of them.
Scientists say that it is up to 100 times more precise than current tests.
In a trial on 78 women recovering from breast cancer, it correctly identified all those who would relapse, sounding the alarm up to 41 months beforehand.
None of those testing negative did relapse.
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Doctors hope the early warning would ensure at-risk patients get the treatment needed to destroy the rogue cancer cells and prevent tumours growing back.
Experts say the findings are significant as about three in ten women treated for breast cancer have to battle it a second time, when it usually cannot be cured.
Study author Dr Isaac Garcia-Murillas, from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: “Ultra-sensitive blood tests could offer a better approach for the long-term monitoring of patients whose cancer is at high risk of returning.”
Dr Simon Vincent, from charity Breast Cancer Now, which funded the study, added: “Early detection is one of our greatest weapons against breast cancer.
“Around 11,000 people die every year in the UK from secondary breast cancer, so breakthroughs like these are urgently needed.”
