There has been quite a movement of late in focusing on active treatment of early stage disease rather than watchful waiting under the basic premise the earlier we treat early stage cancers, the better the outcomes.

Is this hypothesis sound given the majority will be benign and can be left alone? Do we really need to over treat many in order to see benefit in just a few individuals?

First, do no harm.

Instead, what if we could select out many of the high risk patients for escalation and leave the rest alone?

Ah, now this is a much more selective strategy I could get on board with.  This then begs the provocative question of how on earth do we go about identifying them?

Last week something novel and intriguing cropped up and captured my attention on this very front…

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