Development of technology for early prediction of triple-negative breast cancer recurrence through blood extracellular vesicle proteomics analysis

Research Summary

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer, with limited treatment options and a high risk of coming back after treatment. It lacks the common markers that doctors usually target with therapy, making it harder to treat and monitor.
To address this challenge, a Korean research team developed a new blood-based test that may help doctors detect early signs of cancer recurrence more easily and accurately. The team focused on tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are released by tumor cells into the bloodstream. By analyzing these particles, they discovered four key proteins—ECM1, MBL2, BTD, and RAB5C—that are strongly linked to whether the cancer is likely to come back.
Using a specially designed microfluidic chip and advanced machine learning, the researchers achieved highly accurate results: they could correctly identify patients at risk of recurrence with 90% sensitivity and 95% specificity. They also created a scoring system based on the levels of the four proteins, which showed near-perfect diagnostic performance (AUC of 0.986).
This breakthrough suggests that a simple blood test could one day replace more invasive procedures, allowing doctors to better track patients’ conditions and tailor treatments more precisely—offering new hope for those facing TNBC.

Expected Outcomes

This study presents a new and promising way to predict breast cancer recurrence and survival using a simple blood test. By analyzing proteins carried by tiny particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood, researchers were able to identify clear signals linked to higher risks of cancer coming back.
What makes this especially meaningful is that the test worked well even when using ELISA—a standard and affordable method already used in most hospitals. This means it could be applied to real-world medical care without needing expensive new equipment.
In the future, this approach could help doctors design more personalized treatments for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive types. It also opens the door to regular, non-invasive monitoring—making cancer care safer, easier, and more precise.

Related Figures

• [Figure 1] Diagnostic technology for early prediction of TNBC recurrence using microfluidic chips
• [Figure 2] ELISA-based validation of biomarkers for TNBC recurrence