Breakthrough Blood Test Shows Promise in Early Cancer Detection
A recent study conducted by scientists at Johns Hopkins University has shown promising results for a breakthrough blood test that could detect various types of cancer at an early stage. This test, known as a liquid biopsy, aims to find cancer before it spreads, increasing the chances of successful treatment and cure.
The study, published in the journal Science, examined how well the experimental test detected cancer in individuals who were already diagnosed with the disease. Out of the 1,005 patients involved in the study, the blood tests successfully identified approximately 70 percent of eight common types of cancer. The detection rates varied depending on the specific type of cancer, with breast tumors showing a lower rate and ovarian, liver, and pancreatic cancers demonstrating higher rates of detection.
What sets this blood test apart is its ability to narrow down the possible origin of the cancer to one or two places, such as the colon or lung. This information is crucial in determining the necessary follow-up testing for patients, potentially reducing the need for extensive and invasive procedures. Moreover, the test only produced seven false alarms when administered to 812 individuals without cancer.
While these results are promising, it’s important to note that the test is not yet ready for widespread use. Further validation is required through a larger study involving a general population rather than just cancer patients. This will determine the true effectiveness of the test and its potential to save lives—an essential measure of any screening test’s value.
Researchers developed this test to detect mutations in 16 genes associated with cancer and to measure the levels of eight specific proteins that tend to be elevated in the presence of cancer. The test covers breast, colon, and lung cancers, as well as other types that currently lack screening tools for individuals at average risk, such as ovarian, liver, stomach, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers. Notably, prostate cancer is not included in this test. It’s worth mentioning that the widely used prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test has faced controversy regarding its value as a screening tool.
During the study, the new blood test successfully detected 33 percent of breast cancers, around 60 percent of colon or lung cancers, and nearly all ovarian and liver cancers. Its performance improved when the tumors were larger or had spread but showed less accuracy at the earliest stage of cancer development.
To explore the test’s effectiveness in a broader context, Johns Hopkins University and Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania have initiated a study involving 10,000 Geisinger patients. These individuals will be monitored for a minimum of five years to assess the long-term benefits and reliability of the test.
Financial support for this groundbreaking work has been provided by various foundations, the Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which funds health and science coverage for The Associated Press. While many study leaders have financial interests in gene testing companies and own patents related to cancer detection methods, the ultimate goal is to commercialize the test, although the exact cost to consumers is currently unknown.
In addition to the study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, Taiwan-based company CellMax Life presented the results of its own liquid biopsy test at an American Society of Clinical Oncology conference. Their test, which looks for whole tumor cells in the blood, demonstrated an overall accuracy of 84 to 88 percent in detecting cancer or precancerous growths in a cohort of 620 people who underwent colonoscopies or had confirmed colon cancer at a Taiwanese hospital.
While these results are encouraging, further research is necessary to determine the test’s false alarm rate and its efficacy in detecting cancer in larger and more varied populations. The potential of these blood tests to revolutionize early cancer detection is promising, but it is crucial to approach these developments with caution and ensure their effectiveness and accuracy before widespread implementation.
In conclusion, the recent advancements in liquid biopsy tests for early cancer detection present significant promise. However, more research is needed to validate their effectiveness and reliability, especially in larger and more diverse populations. If proven successful, these tests could revolutionize cancer screening by detecting various types of cancer at an early stage when the chances of successful treatment are highest.
