A Simple Blood Test Should Localize Tumors In The Future

As DNA changes in the dying cells and these enter the bloodstream, a simple blood test could diagnose tumor tissue in the future. 

Tumors and their early diagnosis remains a challenge for science and the medical community. Because despite all the progress, it is still very difficult to make an accurate diagnosis.

Tumors can be identified by various examinations, especially if the disease is already at an advanced stage, but these are far from being sufficient and satisfactory.

Detect tumors with a blood test?

A blood analysis  can be used to identify the DNA released from dying cancer cells,  which is very efficient.

But it’s a superficial analysis that doesn’t tell you exactly where the tumor is.

But it should not be long before this is also possible, because a group of bioengineers from the University of California San Diego (USA) has developed a blood test that  can not only identify tumors , but also accurately diagnose them. where they are.

This new analysis option would enable an early diagnosis with which  invasive surgical interventions could then be prevented.

The state of research

The research results were published in the journal  Nature Genetics  . This shows how significant this new diagnostic technique could be in the fight against cancer.

In this study, it was found that when a tumor forms in a particular part of the body, it competes  with healthy cells for nutrients and space,  and during the process provokes the death of healthy cells.

The DNA of the moribund cells enters the bloodstream, which could then make it easier to identify the affected  tissue.

Specifically, they found a DNA pattern that is crucial to find out exactly where the tumor is: the CpG methylation haplotype of the DNA traces in the blood is analyzed.

Any tissue in the body can be identified  because it has unique methylation haplotype patterns.

Kun Zhang, Professor of Engineering School at the University of California in San Diego and head of the study, said:

To test this method, the scientists developed a database in which they recorded various  CpG methylation patterns, for example from organs such as: 

• liver
• Intestines
• colon
• Lungs
• brain
• Kidneys
• spleen
• Pancreas
• blood

More information on the research

In addition,  tumor cells and blood from patients at   the University of California ‘s Moores Cancer Center were analyzed to identify specific genetic markers. 

Blood samples from people without tumors were also used to  find the specific cancer markers and methylation patterns of the tissues.

This is necessary to get a positive answer, which is why the test was called a dual authentication process by the researchers.

Despite the results, the research team prefers to be careful and assures that  this is currently only a concept sample.

” We need to work with oncologists to optimize and refine this technique before clinical trials can begin,” affirmed Zhang.