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Blood Test Accurately Identifies Early Stages of Breast and Lung Cancer

TOP - Daily

Studies show that early detection leads to greater odds in the fight against the diseases

A simple blood test has been created that can detect the beginning stages of cancer, before symptoms like coughing and weight loss start. Developed by Kansas State University professors Stefan Bossmann and Deryl Troyer, the test can detect breast cancer and non–small cell lung cancer in less than an hour.

“We see this as the first step into a new arena of investigation that could eventually lead to improved early detection of human cancers,” Troyer said. “Right now the people who could benefit the most are those classified as at-risk for cancer, such as heavy smokers and people who have a family history of cancer. The idea is these at-risk groups could go to their physician’s office quarterly or once a year, take an easy-to-do, noninvasive test, and be told early on whether cancer has possibly developed.”

By detecting increased enzyme activity in the body, the test can alert physicians to early-stage disease. Iron nanoparticles coated with amino acids and a dye are introduced to and interact with small amounts of blood or urine from a patient. Specific cancer enzyme patterns can then be identified. Once the test is administered, results are generated in approximately 60 minutes.

“These enzyme patterns can also help distinguish between cancer and an infection or other diseases that commonly occur in the human body,” Bossmann said. “For example, a person who smokes a lot of cigars may develop an inflammation in their lungs. That will drive up some of the markers in the test but not all of them. Doctors will be able to see whether there was too much smoke inhalation or if there is something more serious going on. False positives are something that we really want to avoid.”

The test’s accuracy was evaluated on 32 participants in various stages of breast or lung cancer. Researchers collected data from 20 people with breast cancer (between 36 and 81 years old) and 12 people with lung cancer (between 27 and 63 years old). The control group included 12 people without cancer (between 26 and 62 years old).

Each participant’s blood sample was tested 3 times. Data analysis showed a 95% success rate in detecting cancer in participants, including patients with breast cancer in stages 0 and 1 and patients with lung cancer in stages 1 and 2.

In addition to early detection, the test can be modified to monitor cancer, the researchers say. For instance, patients receiving drug treatment can be observed for drug effectiveness, and doctors can test to determine if an entire tumor was removed from a patient following surgery.

Source: Kansas State University.