New Breast Cancer Indicator

We all know that in the case of cancer the earlier the diagnosis the better. So it should come as no suprise that scientists and researchers are always trying to find early indicators of cancer. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center believes they have found a potential indicator in EGFR, epidermal growth factor recptor, levels. EGFR sends a signal for cells to grow,divide, and multiply.
Scientists took the blood samples of two groups of 688 women each controlled for ethnicity, race, and age for the study. One group of women had developed cancer and one group did not. Women that had the most EGFR in their blood sample were three times as likely to develop breast cancer than those who had the smallest amounts of EGFR. The risk for cancer was even higher for women on therapy medication for menopause such as estrogen pills. These women were nine times as likely to develop breast cancer.
The presence of elevated EGFR can help doctors to prescribe medicines that can fight antibodies specifically tied to the growth stimulant. The study shows that increased levels of proteins can signal tumors that would otherwise remain in hiding until much later. Doctors are hesitant to say the EGFR can stand alone as a sole indicator of breast cancer. They do believe that in combination with history of cancer or other indicators it can be very helpful in diagnosis. People may say that the results of the study arent largely signifcant. Though the study may not point out the cure for cancer, it is a step in the right direction. Sometimes cures and solutions come in multiple stages. Future scientists can later build on this study to add to the general body of knowledge. Doctors could be one step closer to the cure.