Diagnosing cancer using blood tests: The idea is not new. So far, however, only a small number of cancer types have been detected. Or the test only worked at a later stage of the disease.
At a congress of the European Society of Oncology today (September 11), researchers presented a new blood test that should make it possible to diagnose more than 50 types of cancer at an early stage. It is able to distinguish tumor DNA from healthy DNA and localize its origin in the body. For example, the test can identify whether a patient has pancreatic cancer or lung cancer.
Promising hit rate
The researchers tested more than 6,000 people over the age of 50 for cancer. The test subjects had not previously been diagnosed with cancer. Around one percent of the blood tests were positive, indicating that tumor DNA was present in the blood of the test subjects. Later tests confirmed that a third of those who tested positive actually had cancer.
The study author Dr. Deb Schrag speaks of a good hit rate. The results are an important first step for the early detection of cancer. This is a great opportunity, especially for variants that are often only discovered late. These include pancreatic, small intestine and stomach cancer.
The earlier cancer is detected, the greater the chances of a cure. Because the sooner you can start treatment and, for example, prevent metastases from forming.
How early cancer is detected depends greatly on where it is located and how easily it is detected. The most common diagnostic methods include X-ray and ultrasound examinations. Lung and breast cancer, for example, are diagnosed in this way. But whether it is actually cancer can only be determined by a tissue or cell sample. Under the microscope, experts can see whether the cells are tumor cells and whether they are benign or malignant.
Chance in hard-to-find tumors
But there are also types of cancer that are difficult to detect using non-invasive methods. Like pancreatic cancer. Small tumors are often only discovered by an endoscopy. In addition, pancreatic cancer often only causes symptoms when other organs are already affected.
According to the research team, the new blood test offers the opportunity to detect cancer types that are difficult to detect in the future and at an early stage. The researchers now want to test the blood test on a larger number of test subjects and start comparative studies for all types of cancer.