A new Australian study suggests that a simple blood test could help doctors better identify which head and neck cancer patients are most likely to experience a relapse after treatment.
Researchers from the Centenary Institute, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW Health Pathology, and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital have discovered that circulating cancer cells in the bloodstream may serve as an early warning sign that the disease could return. Their findings offer a potential new tool to improve post-surgery patient monitoring.
Head and neck cancer affects the lining of the mouth, throat and voice box, and each year about 5,500 Australians receive this diagnosis. While many patients respond well to treatment, a substantial number later face recurrence, often without clear early indicators.
The research team focused on circulating tumour cells, which are cancer cells that detach from a tumour and travel through the bloodstream. By analysing post-surgery blood samples from patients, the scientists found that those with detectable tumour cells in their blood were more likely to see their cancer return.
Professor Jonathan Clark, Director of Head and Neck Cancer Research at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and co-senior author of the study, explained that current follow-up care relies mainly on imaging scans and clinical examinations. These methods, while important, do not always clearly reveal which patients face the greatest risk of early relapse.
The ability to detect circulating tumour cells could therefore provide clinicians with an additional layer of insight, helping them decide which patients may benefit from closer post-surgical monitoring.
Lead author Dr Dannel Yeo, a laboratory head at the Centenary Institute’s Centre for Cancer Innovations, said the blood test is not intended to replace existing diagnostic tools. Instead, it could complement them by giving doctors more information about a patient’s risk profile and helping guide follow-up care decisions.
Professor Ruta Gupta, Clinical Director of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and another co-senior author, said the goal of the research is to support more informed clinical decision-making and more personalised care. Tailoring surveillance to each patient’s risk level could improve outcomes and ensure that those most in need receive the closest attention.
Although more clinical studies are required before the test can become part of routine care, the findings contribute to growing evidence that blood-based biomarkers may play a key role in the future of personalised cancer treatment.
The study has been published in the European Journal of Surgical Oncology.