The promise was great: a blood test that can detect breast cancer and should come on the market in a few months. In the press release of the University of Heidelberg, there was talk of a "milestone in breast cancer diagnostics". Several media reported that the development was celebrated as a "world sensation".
But shortly after the publication was criticized criticism of the PR campaign. Because so far, the researchers have presented the product only at a congress, scientific studies are not yet available. The test is a so-called liquid biopsy (liquid biopsy). Body fluids such as blood, urine or saliva are used to search for messenger substances or tumor cells in order to discover or characterize a cancer.
However, it is still unclear how reliable the test can detect breast cancer in its early stages. Despite being in demand, Project Leader Christof Sohn did not mention the proportion of false alarms in the blood test at a press conference - in other words, how many healthy women wrongly trigger the procedure. This number is essential for the evaluation of a diagnostic procedure. A market launch later this year is therefore utopian. (Here you can read more about it).
"We regret that very much"
The University of Heidelberg apparently sees this now and apologizes for the PR campaign. The explosive factor: At the company Heiscreen, which presented the test, employees of the University of Heidelberg are financially involved. For such company spin-offs in the future, certain rules should apply, which "economic, scientific, ethical and journalistic issues," said hospital spokeswoman Doris Rübsam-Brodkorb.
The university hospital apologize to women who might have made false hopes for a quick use of the test, said Rübsam-Brodkorb. "We regret that very much."
The diagnostic procedure could be used at the end of the year for testing purposes in the laboratory, said Doris Rübsam-Brodkorb. Thus, the test, which can detect messenger substances of tumor cells in blood samples, but not yet on the market. First, distribution channels and reimbursement of costs would have to be clarified by the health insurance companies.
more on the subject
In addition, the university hospital distanced itself from the PR strategy to the blood test. The media accompaniment Heiscreen was responsible, said Rübsam-Brodkorb. However, the university hospital published the message on its website. Son told the "Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung", he was involved with four percent of Heiscreen, his university colleague Sarah Schott with more than seven percent.
So far, breast cancer screening is mainly based on regular palpation and mammography screening, an X-ray of the breast. According to the Center for Cancer Registry Data of the Robert Koch Institute, breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women in Germany every year, with around 69,000 new cases. In 2016, 18,570 women died of breast cancer in Germany.