Important scientific progress. A UK National Health Service (NHS) trial of a blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer has shown great promise.
As reported by ABC, the results of the trial will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, and published in The Lancet Oncology.
More than 5,000 people who went to their GP with suspected symptoms took part in the study. And in 85% of positive cases, the test also identified the original location of the cancer.
Its name is Test Gallery and it is able to identify changes in fragments of the genetic code that leak from different types of cancer.
The research company GRAIL Inc makes the test available on prescription in the United States. It is used to complement other forms of more comprehensive detection, such as breast, cervix, prostate, lung, and intestine.
test run
The conduct of the test is distinctive because of its low complexity. A sample of the patient’s blood must be obtained and tested for cfDNA (cell-free DNA), which is released into the blood from the tumor and other cells.
Genomic sequencing is used to identify chemical changes in DNA (methylation) that control gene expression. Similarly, a classifier developed with machine learning (artificial intelligence) is also used which uses the results to detect abnormal methylation patterns that suggest the presence of cancer.
In addition, the machine learning classifier also has the potential to detect where cancer is located in the body. Regarding the timing of the test, results are available ten working days after the sample arrives at the laboratory.
