Blood test could replace biopsy for cancer diagnosis

A revolutionary new blood test could alleviate pressure on patients and healthcare providers by offering a quick, non-intrusive alternative to biopsy to diagnose cancer, according to research results presented at the recent annual World Conference on Lung Cancer in Colorado.

The new test would also result in huge savings, said Mr Eric Lim, consultant thoracic surgeon at Royal Brompton & Harefield National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, UK. According to Mr Lim, who led the trial, patients would have the results ‘within days’. The study, carried out at the Royal Brompton Hospital and the UK’s National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) at Imperial College London, involved 223 patients with known or suspected primary or secondary lung cancer who were about to undergo surgery. 

The researchers were not told whether the cancer was confirmed or not. In nearly 70% of cases, the blood test was accurate in predicting the presence of cancer cells. When cells die, including cancer cells, DNA is released into the bloodstream. 

The new blood test is able to detect three common cancer-specific gene mutations in the blood. Certain gene patterns are specific to cancer but vary according to cancer types. Lung and colorectal cancer have similar gene patterns, so the researchers expect similar tests to be useful for both types. 

The researchers also compared the genetic abnormalities found in the blood with samples from tissue and found that they matched, confirming their results.