How is the blood test able to detect 8 types of cancer
There is no doubt that everything that involves more information in the diagnosis, especially if it is done early, and improvements in medical treatment, is always a great advance against cancer.
And, on this occasion, we have heard about a phenomenal advance in what cancer diagnosis and detection refers to: The Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins has been able to develop a blood test capable of detecting 8 most common cancers, helping in turn to identify where cancer is located (that is, its location).
What is CancerSEEK?
Under the name of CancerSEEK, researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center have developed a unique non-invasive test which is able to simultaneously analyze the concentration of a total of 8 cancer proteins, the most common, which represent more than 60% of cancer deaths in the United States.
In fact, five of the types of cancer that this blood test includes do not currently have any type of screening test.
But not only is there, since It is also able to detect the presence of 16 genetic mutations by cancer in the DNA circulating in the blood at the time of performing the blood test. These mutations can end up becoming extremely specific markers for cancer.
By keeping a small mutation panel, it helps in turn to minimize the possible False positive results, and it is very useful to maintain the cost of this type of analysis, so that they are as affordable as possible.
What types of cancer is CancerSEEK able to detect?
We are facing a new and revolutionary method of diagnosis that has been designed to detect the following types of cancer:
- Ovarian cancer.
- Pancreatic cancer.
- Liver cancer.
- Stomach cancer.
- Esophagus cancer.
- Breast cancer
- Lung cancer.
- Colorectal cancer.
The sensitivity of this cancer analysis reaches between 69 and 98 percent, a percentage that depends directly on the type of tumor. On the other hand, the probability that a healthy person has a false positive result would actually be very low.
How does this blood test work?
After taking the blood sample, a combined analysis of both DNA and proteins, to analyze mutations in 16 genes linked to different types of tumors, and to study a total of 10 biomarkers of circulating proteins in the blood.
As we have seen, the blood test is so specific that the possibility of receiving a false positive result is very low.
On the other hand, stands out especially for being a non-invasive diagnostic method, unlike the biopsies that are currently carried out. This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesCancer
