Tests like mammography and CT scans are employed to detect the presence of cancer. But a recent study undertaken by the company Oncimmune of the University of Nottingham discovered that blood test is able to identify cancer as much as five years earlier than the present day tests. Oncimmune ascertained that the results of the patient’s test will be provided within one week of sending in a blood sample to them.
The technology termed as immuno-biomarkers is apparently a replication of the cancer proteins. These proteins may urge the body to develop a response to the ailment and the technology further measures the acquired response. This technology seemingly aids in early detection of the disease and may prove immensely beneficial for physicians. This is mainly because, it will enable them to not only recommend an early diagnosis, but also help increase the rate of survival in cancer patients.
The authors enlightened that the technology seemingly detects cancers of the lung, breast, ovarian, colon and prostate. Initially, the authors analyzed the blood samples obtained from patients with breast cancer and a group of women facing an elevated risk for the same who were going through a mammography test every year.
Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham explained, “The study will provide additional test systems for the early diagnosis of a wide range of cancers which will have considerable impact within clinical medicine. The group’s discovery science which has led to a novel set of biomarkers is providing new insights into the biology of cancer. Their basic, translational and clinical study is likely to contribute to a positive paradigm shift in our understanding of the early phases of cancer cell development as well as enhancement of the medical management of a wide range of cancer types.”
Apart from discovering a signal in the blood of a percentage of women with breast cancer, similar results seemed to be reported in the group of high-risk patients. It should be noted that prior to this the group of high-risk patients were undergoing several blood tests along with an annual check up from a number of years.
The authors further affirmed that employing this technology could have detected over half of these cancers up to four years before they were actually diagnosed. It has been believed that various other studies too have noted similar results, especially in detection of lung cancer. The first early cancer detection test (EarlyCDT) will probably enable physicians to detect lung cancer approximately five years before a tumor is noted.
The patients who may be beneficial with this test include high-risk individuals such as long-term smokers and ex-smokers between the ages of 40 and 75. The test is ascertained to be useful for individuals exposed to other risk factors associated with the disease such as radon, asbestos and extensive exposure to secondary smoke also. The new technology may be extremely helpful to physicians as well as cancer patients.
The test will initially be provided through primary care physicians and pulmonologists in the USA. It should aid high risk asymptomatic patients and those having indeterminate lung nodules.