New DNA test likely to detect 18 early-stage cancers
Researchers at US biotech company Novelna have created a groundbreaking DNA test capable of detecting 18 early-stage cancers across all major human organs. Early diagnosis is crucial for improving patient outcomes, and this new test could revolutionize cancer detection, as current screening methods can be invasive, expensive, and less accurate for early-stage diseases.
Blood plasma proteins are key to the test's accuracy
The innovative test examines proteins in blood plasma to distinguish cancerous samples from healthy ones and accurately identify various cancer types. Prior tests lacked sensitivity and specificity, but this study discovered that cancer protein signals are likely sex-specific. The team gathered blood plasma samples from 440 individuals with 18 distinct cancer types and 44 healthy donors.
High accuracy in identifying early-stage cancers
The scientists pinpointed proteins that revealed early-stage cancers and their origins in the body with impressive accuracy. The team reported, "At stage I (the earliest cancer stage) and at the specificity of 99%, our panels were able to identify 93% of cancers among males and 84% of cancers among females." Their sex-specific localization panels, consisting of 150 proteins, could determine the tissue of origin in over 80% of cases.
Experts welcome findings but urge caution
Dr. Mangesh Thorat from the Centre for Cancer Prevention, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, and Prof. Paul Pharoah, cancer epidemiology expert, recognize the test's potential but stress the need for additional research with larger sample sizes. Dr. Thorat was quoted by The Guardian, "If the assay performance in future, well-designed sequential studies is anywhere close to what this preliminary study suggests, then it could really be a game-changer." Pharoah cautioned it's too early to be confident in the test's efficacy.
Other pathbreaking discoveries that may prevent cancer
Back in 2022, researchers found out that stool tests may be a helpful tool for physicians to detect pancreatic cancer early on. In 2023, a revolutionary molecule that kills cancer was unveiled by City of Hope, one of the top cancer research and treatment centers in the United States. The pill is a potential "holy grail" in cancer therapy because it targets and eradicates all solid cancer tumors without harming healthy cells.
