How Liquid Biopsies, AI, and Targeted Therapies Are Changing Everything
Published: October 2023
Breast cancer research has entered what many oncologists are calling its most transformative period in decades. The days of one-size-fits-all treatment approaches are rapidly fading, replaced by an exciting new paradigm of precision medicine that leverages artificial intelligence, liquid biopsies, and targeted therapies.
These advances are allowing doctors to detect breast cancer earlier, treat it more effectively, and personalize care in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago.
The recent 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting showcased groundbreaking research that promises to reshape how we prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer—offering new hope to the 2.3 million women worldwide diagnosed with this disease each year 7 .
Detecting resistance months before scans can
Identifying risk years before cancer develops
Precision treatments with fewer side effects
One of the most significant breakthroughs in breast cancer management has been the development of liquid biopsy technology—blood tests that can detect tiny fragments of tumor DNA (circulating tumor DNA or ctDNA) shed by cancer cells into the bloodstream.
This technology represents a paradigm shift from traditional monitoring methods that rely on imaging scans which can only detect tumors once they've reached a certain size.
While liquid biopsies are transforming how we monitor existing cancer, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we predict risk before cancer ever develops. In a landmark development, the FDA recently granted authorization to Clairity Breast—the first AI-powered platform that predicts a woman's risk of developing breast cancer over the next five years using only a standard mammogram 3 .
"For more than 60 years, mammograms have saved lives by detecting early-stage cancers. Now, advancements in AI and computer vision can uncover hidden clues in the mammograms—invisible to the human eye—to help predict future risk" 3 .
The power of liquid biopsy was spectacularly demonstrated in the SERENA-6 trial, a large international study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at ASCO 2025 2 5 .
| Outcome Measure | Camizestrant Group | Standard Treatment Group | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Progression-Free Survival | 16.0 months | 9.2 months | 6.8 months |
| Time to Deterioration in Quality of Life | 23.0 months | 6.4 months | 16.6 months |
| Overall Response Rate | ~19% | ~4% | ~15% |
Over 3,300 patients screened at 264 clinical sites across 23 countries 2
Participants underwent blood draws every 2-3 months to monitor for ESR1 mutations
315 patients with detectable ESR1 mutations randomly assigned to experimental or control groups
Experimental group showed significantly improved progression-free survival and quality of life metrics
The dramatic advances in breast cancer detection and treatment are made possible by a suite of powerful technologies that have become essential tools for researchers and clinicians alike.
Advanced machine learning systems detect subtle patterns in medical images that predict cancer risk years before visible development 3 .
While improved detection and monitoring technologies are crucial, they're only part of the story. Equally exciting advances are occurring in therapeutic development, particularly for aggressive and treatment-resistant forms of breast cancer.
| Drug Name | Drug Class | Mechanism of Action | Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camizestrant | Next-generation SERD | Selective estrogen receptor degrader | ER+ breast cancer with ESR1 mutations |
| Vepdegestrant | PROTAC SERD | Targets estrogen receptors for degradation | ER+ breast cancer with ESR1 mutations |
| Inavolisib | PI3K inhibitor | Inhibits PI3K pathway | PIK3CA-mutated, HR+/HER2- breast cancer |
| Trastuzumab Deruxtecan | Antibody-drug conjugate | Delivers chemotherapy directly to HER2+ cells | HER2+ and HER2-low breast cancer |
Reduction in risk of disease progression or death with sacituzumab govitecan combination compared to chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab for triple-negative breast cancer 1
As impressive as these treatment advances are, researchers are increasingly looking beyond therapy to prevention and addressing disparities in care.
Testing a novel alpha-lactalbumin vaccine designed to stimulate the immune system to attack triple-negative breast cancer cells 9 .
Exploring changes in connective breast tissue as a potential biomarker for aggressive breast cancer development 6 .
Research shows survival benefits from new treatments vary by race and ethnicity, highlighting the need for equitable care 4 .
The landscape of breast cancer research and care is evolving at an unprecedented pace, moving us toward a future where prevention is more effective, detection is earlier, and treatments are increasingly tailored to each individual's specific cancer biology.
"Why do we do what we do? What fuels our purpose? We are deeply privileged to impact patients' lives, to support the families who trust us, to be part of a community committed to healing and hope, and to make a difference for people we may never meet" 1 .
As these technologies continue to evolve and become more widely available, we're moving closer to a world where breast cancer is not just treatable, but preventable and manageable as a chronic condition for many patients.