Researchers have created an uncomplicated genetic examination that can detect 18 initial forms of cancer, which professionals believe could revolutionize the field of medicine.
One out of every six deaths globally is caused by cancer, but detecting it early can greatly improve the results. However, current screening methods have flaws such as being invasive, expensive, and not accurate enough for detecting the disease in its early stages.
A team of US scientists has developed a blood test that can identify 18 types of cancer in their early stages, covering all major organs in the body.
Researchers stated that certain blood proteins could potentially be utilized for detecting and tracking cancer at an early stage. However, previous tests have not been precise enough in both their ability to detect those with cancer and exclude those without cancer.
The researchers from Novelna, a biotech company based in the US, stated that their test performed better than others that use tumor DNA from blood samples. They also claimed that their test had a higher sensitivity compared to the Galleri test currently being tested by the NHS in the UK.
Researchers analyzed proteins in blood plasma and successfully identified cancer samples from normal ones. They were also able to differentiate between various types of cancers with a high level of accuracy. Additionally, the study suggests that cancer protein signals may vary depending on sex.
In a report published in the journal BMJ Oncology, the researchers stated that their discovery serves as the basis for a comprehensive cancer screening exam. This test aims to identify 18 different types of solid tumors, which originate in the major organs of the human body, at an early stage with great precision.
They stated: “This has the potential to change screening recommendations, leading to the inclusion of this plasma test in regular check-ups.”
These results lay the foundation for a low-cost, extremely precise, universal cancer screening test that can be utilized for the entire population.
440 individuals diagnosed with 18 various types of cancer and 44 healthy blood donors provided blood plasma samples.
The group subsequently pinpointed proteins that accurately indicated the presence of early-stage cancers and their location in the body.
The team stated that at stage I, with a specificity of 99%, their panels successfully identified 93% of cancers in males and 84% of cancers in females.
“Our panels for sex-specific localization consisted of 150 proteins and successfully determined the tissue of origin for over 80% of cancer cases.”
The team stated that their analysis of plasma proteins revealed that the majority of them were found in small amounts. This highlights the significance of detecting low-level proteins in detecting pre-cancerous and early stage disease, before a tumor has the chance to do significant harm.
Nevertheless, the team stated that their limited number of participants required further research to be conducted on larger groups of individuals.
According to Dr Mangesh Thorat from the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, who was not part of the research team, there are still uncertainties surrounding the test and further studies are necessary.
He mentioned that the unique features of this test include a greater ability to detect stage I cancers compared to other assays in progress, as well as performance variations based on gender that are significant in both biological and clinical contexts.
If the results of future sequential studies are as promising as this initial study indicates, it has the potential to be a significant breakthrough.
Professor Paul Pharoah, a specialist in cancer epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who was not part of the research team, expressed approval of the results but advised being careful.
The speaker expressed that accurate and specific blood tests for various types of cancer, which can detect them in their early stages, are highly desired for early detection.
This study presents the preliminary findings of a test currently in development. Although the results are promising, it is too early to determine if this test will be effective for detecting cancer at an early stage.
Source: theguardian.com
