A liquid biopsy is a simple blood test that can detect lung cancer recurrence well in advance. What is the test?
Prof. Charles Swanton of the Francis Crick Institute in London says that a liquid biopsy can detect lesions as small as 0,3 cubic millimeters. Such small tumors are not detected by any imaging tests, such as computed tomography.
The effectiveness of the liquid biopsy was confirmed by trials carried out on 14 patients with lung cancer. In 13 of them, she found changes that clearly suggested relapse.
The test allows to detect trace amounts of DNA fragments from the patient’s cancer cells in the blood sample. First, however, it is necessary to perform genetic profiling of the tumor, based on samples taken during the surgery to remove the lung tumor. Pathomorphologists then know what to look for in the blood sample taken.
It seems that early diagnosis of cancer recurrence will enable faster treatment even before the first symptoms appear. This should increase the chances of extending the patient’s life or even curing him. Will research revolutionize cancer treatment and extend patients’ lives? This will be confirmed by clinical trials that are just starting.
– We hope that the early application of the therapy will increase the chances of effective treatment – adds prof. Swanton.
One of the patients on liquid biopsy is 65-year-old Janet Maitland. She developed lung cancer after her husband died of the same cancer. However, she was lucky that the tumor was operable. Oncologists give her 75 percent. chances of surviving five years.
Prof. Swanton claims that if his liquid biopsy works in patients with lung cancer, it could also be used in the early detection of other cancers.