Researchers Create a Sophisticated DNA Test Capable of Identifying 18 Types of Early Stage Cancers

In a significant advancement in medical diagnostics, scientists have introduced a simple DNA test that can detect 18 different early-stage cancers. This development could revolutionize healthcare, as cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for one-sixth of all global fatalities.

The research team at the American biotech company Novelna has engineered this innovative DNA test. It works by analyzing proteins in blood plasma, allowing it to differentiate cancerous samples from normal ones and accurately identify various types of cancers.

Published in the BMJ Oncology Journal, their study indicates that the protein signals associated with cancer might display characteristics specific to each sex.

The implications of this discovery are substantial. It suggests the possibility of integrating this plasma test into routine health check-ups, potentially transforming current screening protocols.

The study involved collecting and analyzing blood plasma samples from 440 individuals diagnosed with 18 different cancers, along with 44 healthy blood donors. The test demonstrated a high level of accuracy, especially in detecting stage 1 cancers, with a precision rate of 99%.

While the results are promising, researchers emphasize the need for additional studies with larger groups of participants to validate these findings.

Dr. Mangesh Thorat from the Centre for Cancer Prevention at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, who was not part of the study, commented on its significance. He highlighted the test’s higher sensitivity for stage I cancers compared to other assays in development and noted the important gender-specific differences in performance. As reported by The Guardian, he mentioned that if future, well-structured studies confirm these initial findings, this test could indeed be a transformative development in cancer diagnosis.