Dr Kotryna Temcinaite, Senior Research Communications Manager at Breast Cancer Now, said:
"This exciting research could offer thousands more women with breast cancer the opportunity of avoiding the need to endure chemotherapy and its devastating, and often long-lasting, side effects by identifying who the treatment will benefit.
"While chemotherapy has long been a necessary part of breast cancer treatment for many, this study suggests that a more tailored approach to the treatment could benefit even more patients than first thought.
"This welcome research is another important step in the personalisation of breast cancer treatment to identify the kindest solution for each individual, without increasing their chances of the disease coming back.
"There are tumour-profiling tests including Oncotype DX that have already been approved by NICE for use with a certain group of patients, to guide them and their clinicians in decisions about whether they should have chemotherapy.
"We now look forward to seeing further results from this study, to understand the long-term outcomes of omitting chemotherapy treatment for this additional group of women."
Further information
In the meantime, anyone worried about their breast cancer treatment can speak to our expert nurses by calling our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.
Read the full press release