Researchers have discovered that the way light reacts with human cells may indicate the likelihood of a person having lung cancer. Patients who develop lung tumours may have subtle abnormalities in all cells in their lungs, mouth and nose.
These abnormalities can be seen by shining light on the cells. Using swabs from patients’ cheeks, researchers found lung cancer patients reflected and refracted light slightly differently to those who did not have the disease. The findings were presented at the British Thoracic Society’s winter meeting by British Research Council supported Professor Sam Janes.
Professor Janes said: “This non-invasive test can help identify those who are at greatest risk within adult smokers. Our vision for the future is that smokers could get a test in the GP or pharmacy, swab their mouth or nose, and the sample is then sent off for analysis. The earlier lung cancer is detected the better the outcome”.
Professor Janes’ study used infrared light to examine cells samples from 76 smokers, half of whom had been diagnosed with lung cancer. The researchers found that the cells of smokers with lung cancer could be differentiated from those without lung cancer with an accuracy of 80%.
Professor Janes said: “Tobacco smoke exposure seems to cause a different type of injury to cells in those that go on to develop lung cancer. If we can use this detection system early enough maybe we can spot lung cancer at a much earlier stage or even inform whether an individual is at risk of lung cancer.”
