The new $ 3 blood test is "revolutionary" in cancer detection, say doctors
Fast and inexpensive, it can offer new paths for early detection.
Regarding cancer, Early detection is often the key to a good prognosis. This is why researchers are continuously looking for new ways to identify biomarkers who could indicate a problem earlier. Now a team of researchers has developed a new "revolutionary" $ 3 blood test to add to the cancer detection arsenal. Read the rest for everything you need to know about the multi-cancer detection test, which requires only a small blood sample and can give patients responses in just a few hours.
In relation: $ 2,500 body analyzes can find cancer early - do doctors recommend it?
Here's how the new test works.
According to the Mayo clinic, "most blood tests are not used alone To diagnose cancer. But they can provide clues that can lead your health care team to diagnose. "" AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
When you use blood and laboratory tests to help cancer detection, doctors will often use a complete blood count (CBC), tests that examine blood proteins and tumor marker tests to find certain chemicals manufactured by cancer cells. Other tests can look for cancer cells themselves or identify genetic materials in cancer cells, notes the clinic.
However, according to a new study Posted in the medical journal Discovery of cancer , the researchers have identified a blood test which can identify a protein known as line-1-orf1p-a "Telltale" characteristic of several types of cancer. The test requires only a small amount of blood and can be analyzed in less than two hours.
Although line 1 is a protein that can be found in any human cell that replies "through a copy and checkout mechanism", it only produces Orf1p at high levels when cancer is Present, explain the authors of the study.
"There are layers of mechanisms that prevent the expression of the line-1 and the production of orf1p, we can therefore use the presence of the protein as an indicator of an unhealthy cell which no longer has control over its transcriptome, "said John Lacava , Phd, a Associate teacher of research at the Rockefeller University and co-author of the study, in a October 31 Article Published by the University. "You should not find Orf1p in the bloodstream of a healthy person."
In relation: 30 things you had no idea could cause cancer .
Scientists say he has "revolutionary potential".
Because orf1p "proteins" become very high in most cancers ", only one test could soon help doctors identify a wide range of cancers, including those affecting esophagus, colon, lungs, breasts, Prostate, ovaries, uterus, pancreas and head and neck, ”say the researchers.
"The test has revolutionary potential as an early diagnostic test for fatal cancers," said Road Michael P. , PHD, head of the Rockefeller University Cellular and structural biology laboratory . "These types of ultra -sensitive detection instruments are about to improve patient results in a transformative manner."
Lacava notes that the establishment of a "basic line" during your healthy years could help identify a problem later: "Your doctor would keep an eye on peaks in orf1p levels, which could be indicative of A change in your state of health. Although there may be minor fluctuations orf1p here and there, a point would be a cause for a deeper investigation. "
The test can also help monitor cancer treatment.
Another way in which the blood test could help care for cancer is that it could potentially help doctors monitor the progress of cancer treatments. Lacava notes that when treatment is effective, you can expect or levels of orf1p in the patient's blood to decrease.
In fact, the study examined the data of 19 patients processed for gastroesophageal cancer to decipher the precision of the test with precision to identify effective treatment. Among the 13 patients whose cancer treatments operated effectively, Orf1p has systematically fallen to undetectable levels, suggesting high levels of reliability.
In relation: The new treatment could make your cholesterol half, say the researchers - and these are not statins .
The best way to detect cancer is always through regularly programmed screening.
Although blood tests and other tests based on biomarkers are pushing the boundaries of cancer research, experts say that your best chances of early detection are always to get your regularly programmed cancer screenings. For example, women without family history of breast cancer should plan to obtain annual mammographs from 40 years. Men and women at medium risks of colon cancer should start to obtain colonoscopies at 45 years old.
To discover the other projections you may need according to your age, see this Reference guide of the American Cancer Society. Talk to your doctor to find out more about the regular cancer screening and make sure to inform them of any family history of cancer, which could change your screening calendar.
For more health information sent directly to your reception box, Register for our daily newsletter .
Best Life offers the most up -to -date information for high -level experts, new research and health agencies, but our content is not supposed to replace professional advice. Regarding the medication you take or any other health issue you have, always consult your health care provider directly.