BC-Monitor is an innovative blood-based test that supports you and your treating physician in decisions related to breast cancer treatment. It provides information about the current status of the disease in a simple, fast and repeatable way
A tumor is not a static condition: under the influence of treatment, it may continuously change and, over time, become resistant to the therapies being used. These changes may begin months before symptoms or abnormalities visible on imaging tests appear. Instead of earlier tissue samples, BC-Monitor examines the tumor's current genetic status, so early signs of change may be detected. This gives your treating physician the opportunity to respond in time and, if necessary, adapt treatment to your current condition.
1. Priskin K. et al., "BC-Monitor: Towards a Routinely Accessible Circulating Tumor DNA-Based Tool for Real-Time Monitoring Breast Cancer Progression and Treatment Effectiveness", Cancers (Basel), vol. 13, no. 14, p. 3489, Jul. 2021, doi: 10.3390/cancers13143489.
4. A. Zundelevich et al., "ESR1 mutations are frequent in newly diagnosed metastatic and loco-regional recurrence of endocrine-treated breast cancer and carry worse prognosis," Breast Cancer Res, vol. 22, p. 16, 2020, doi: 10.1186/s13058-020-1246-5.
5. J. L. Meisel, T. Pham, C. Chen, A. Kris, and J. Roose, "Real-world estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) testing patterns and results in U.S. patients with metastatic breast cancer, 2018-2024.", JCO Oncol Pract, vol. 21, no. 10_suppl, pp. 579-579, Oct. 2025, doi: 10.1200/OP.2025.21.10_suppl.579.
Clinical indication
When and for whom is the test recommended?
The BC-Monitor test was developed for patients diagnosed with breast cancer
In advanced disease
If the disease is advanced or metastatic and requires continuous, precise follow-up
For any breast cancer subtype
Regardless of whether the tumor is hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-positive or triple-negative
When the effectiveness of hormone therapy is in question
When there is a suspicion that the disease has reactivated during or after hormone therapy (progression)
When conventional sampling is limited
When another tissue sample (biopsy) cannot be obtained, or the available sample is unsuitable for genetic testing
For monitoring treatment effectiveness
For molecular-level monitoring of therapy, enabling timely assessment of treatment response, often before clinical or imaging abnormalities appear.
For monitoring tumor-free status
In tumor-free status, to support early detection of relapse and long-term, personalized patient follow-up.
BC-Monitor
The benefits of liquid biopsy
BC-Monitor tracks genetic changes in the tumor that appear in the blood months before clinical progression can be detected by conventional methods
Moderate to high (radiation exposure, contrast agent)
Minimal (blood draw)
Cost
~HUF 250,000 - 300,000
HUF 65,000 - 300,000 (depending on modality)
HUF 5,000
Turnaround time
7 working days
3-5 days
1-3 days
Detection of tumor heterogeneity
Excellent (multiple clones, systemic information)
Limited (local image only)
None
Monitoring therapeutic response
Real-time (mutation-level monitoring)
Direct, but delayed
Conditional, non-specific
Prediction of progression
Up to several months before clinical manifestation
None
Non-specific
Key resistance marker
ESR1 mutation - the key to resistance to hormone therapy
In hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer, one of the most important resistance mechanisms is the emergence of so-called ESR1 mutations. These genetic alterations typically develop under the selection pressure of hormone treatments. During the treatment of advanced or metastatic disease, they can be detected in up to 40% of patients. Their presence reduces or prevents the effectiveness of endocrine therapies.4 ESR1 mutations appear in the blood months before clinical progression, so they can provide an early molecular indication of declining treatment effectiveness. BC-Monitor enables these mutations to be identified from blood, allowing the treating physician to recognize the development of resistance in time and adjust therapy.5
Benefits
Safety, answers and peace of mind during treatment
BC-Monitor makes the recovery process safer and more predictable for you and your treating physician, from painless sampling to precise results
Simple blood-based testing
The required information is obtained from a simple routine blood draw, so sampling involves no additional burden or pain for you
Fast results to support effective therapy selection
We provide results within a short time, which can help your physician select the most appropriate personalized treatment in time.
Detailed information for your treating physician
The report provides in-depth genetic data that complement histological findings and support your physician in precise decision-making
Confirmation of the effectiveness of the selected therapy
The test may provide objective molecular information on how the tumor is responding to treatment, helping your physician assess whether the current therapy remains effective
Early indication of tumor progression and new alterations
The test can indicate internal tumor changes or the appearance of a new high-risk mutation months before imaging tests.
Early detection of resistance to drug therapy
The test may help detect early molecular signs of emerging drug resistance, giving your physician additional information when considering treatment adjustments.
Explore our partners
Find the partner closest to you!
Our partners are available at numerous locations across Hungary and look forward to hearing from you
We have collected the most common questions about BC-Monitor.
BC-Monitor does not replace imaging tests; it complements them. CT, MRI or PET scans show the size and location of the tumor. BC-Monitor, by contrast, monitors the molecular status of the tumor. It is important to emphasize that liquid biopsy can often detect tumor progression months earlier than conventional imaging procedures.
Liquid biopszia - Innováció a mellrák változásainak korai felismerésében | BC-Monitor
