New research from King’s College London indicates that a widely used clinical test could enhance understanding of how the immune system reacts to breast cancer. This breakthrough involves fine needle aspiration (FNA), a minimally invasive procedure that allows doctors to collect small samples from lymph nodes without subjecting patients to additional invasive procedures.
Traditionally, healthcare professionals assess whether breast cancer has spread to the axillary lymph nodes, located in the armpit, as this information is critical for determining the best course of treatment. The study, published in the journal Cancers, highlights how FNA can also be employed to analyze the immune cell composition within these lymph nodes. This dual-use approach may open new avenues for assessing disease risk and personalizing treatment strategies.
Understanding Immune Activity in Lymph Nodes
Researchers optimized the FNA technique to profile tumor-free axillary lymph nodes in individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite the limited size of the samples, the study successfully identified a diverse array of immune cells, including common types like T cells, alongside rarer populations that are vital to immune defense.
The findings reveal that the immune cell composition in the lymph nodes correlates with the extent of cancer present in other adjacent nodes. This suggests that FNA could provide indirect insights into tumor burden, even when the sampled lymph node is free of cancer cells.
Dr. Kalnisha Naidoo, Adjunct/Honorary Senior Lecturer in Translational Pathology at King’s College London and senior author of the study, emphasized the significance of this technique. “This represents an important first step towards preventing over-treatment of the axilla. By using a minimally invasive technique that is already part of routine clinical care, we hope that in future we will be able to identify which patients can safely avoid axillary surgery, while still ensuring that those at higher risk receive the most appropriate treatment,” she stated.
Implications for Patient Care
The researchers noted the potential for FNA-based immune profiling to help distinguish between patients with higher and lower risks of cancer spread. This could lead to more tailored treatment options and may spare some patients from unnecessary surgical procedures.
While the findings are promising, the team stresses the need for larger studies to validate whether immune profiling using FNA can reliably predict cancer spread and patient outcomes.
Jasmine A. Gore and her colleagues contributed to this research, which aims to enhance understanding of the immune response in breast cancer patients. The study’s insights may pave the way for breakthroughs in personalized medicine, ultimately improving patient care.
As the medical community continues to explore these innovative approaches, the integration of FNA in routine assessments holds the potential to refine treatment protocols and improve the overall management of breast cancer.
