Safe Avoidance of Chemotherapy after Breast Cancer Surgery

Last week great news was shared when Optima trial results came out. The results showed that millions of breast cancer patients can be spared chemotherapy without a significant effect on survival compared to those who had chemotherapy. The study included over 4000 patients who had high risk features (nodal involvement, large tumours) from an international population. 

This is obviously great news as patients dread chemotherapy and rightly so. It is associated with significant and occasionally life-threatening side effects. 

At Frimley we have been using Prosigna test (the genomic DNA test used in the trial) for several years now and as a result, we have managed to treat hundreds of patients safely without the need for chemotherapy. 

I was (still am, as the study is in follow-up phase) the principal investigator for the Study at Frimley Park Hospital for the last year or so of its recruitment. It gives me great pleasure to see its results showing safety of chemotherapy omission. 

I would like to take the opportunity to thank all patients who participated in this study to help advance science and help other patients make decisions. Special thanks to my Frimley patients, your selflessness is much appreciated. I would also like to thank my research nurses and all the team involved for their continued follow up and support of patients enrolled in the study.