Genetic testing could spare thousands of women chemotherapy and save NHS £4m yearly
A UCL study suggests that offering the Prosigna genetic test to more women with breast cancer could help identify those unlikely to benefit from chemotherapy. Wider access could spare thousands of women its side effects and save the NHS money.
The OPTIMA trial tested 4,429 women aged 40 and over whose cancer had spread to up to nine lymph nodes or whose tumour was at least 30mm. It found 67 per cent could avoid chemotherapy; researchers estimate that is about 4,200 women a year. After test costs and other factors, the estimated saving is £654 per patient, or around £4 million annually if all eligible women were tested.
In short
- Prosigna could help identify women who can avoid chemotherapy.
- The trial found 67 per cent of participants did not need it.
- Wider testing could save the NHS about £4 million a year.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Breast cancer DNA test could save the NHS £4m a year – and spare younger women chemotherapy”.