New approaches to screening and treatment of cancer are under development, aimed at speeding up diagnosis and improving outcomes. Researchers presented their latest findings at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference.
At the recent National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference, held in Liverpool, scientists revealed that they have identified more than 800 markers in the blood of cancer patients that could help lead to a single blood test for early detection of many types of cancer in future. This is the first time that cancer-specific blood markers have been comprehensively reviewed and identified for further clinical development. This study, by the UK Early Cancer Detection Consortium, funded by Cancer Research UK, has analysed 19,000 scientific papers and found more than 800 biomarkers.
The aim of this research is to develop a screening test from a single blood sample for multiple cancer types. All cancers produce markers in the blood, so it could be feasible to develop a general screening test for many different forms of the disease.
In the UK, survival rates for cancer are lower than in some other western countries, part of which may be related to late diagnosis. But developing more ways to spot cancers earlier, including research into new screening technologies such as this could help give more options for curative treatment, and save more lives in the future.
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