Advancing Liquid Biopsy Testing: Harnessing Epigenetics for Early Detection of Residual and Recurrent Breast Cancer

Associate Professor Clare Stirzaker

The University of New South Wales

$$448,116.40

2025 - 2028

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The Research

Cancer surveillance and early detection are key to enabling better outcomes in Breast Cancer (BC)(AIHW). Currently, up to 30% of BC patients relapse after primary treatment.

There is a clinical need for accurate, sensitive molecular tests to monitor these patients to detect breast cancer relapse early. Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) found in the blood of cancer patients is increasingly used in oncology for follow-up and monitoring for disease recurrence.

Here we propose to create the first epigenetic biomarker test for detecting BC in circulating cell-free DNA for BC surveillance. Liquid biopsy testing allows regular BC monitoring, is a non-invasive test, and will detect relapse earlier.

Currently, blood-based monitoring is 'not yet a standard tool in the clinical oncologist's arsenal.' Our proposal aims to provide evidence of the enhancement in clinical practice of an improved test to detect all BC; ultimately earlier detection will translate into superior outcomes for patients.

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