Node Smith, ND
Blood Test to Detect Cancer Could be Available Soon
The latest issue of the journal Science, gives a promising account of a blood test to detect cancer being available soon.1 According to the study report, the blood test will be able to detect 8 common cancers before symptoms begin to manifest.
Search for Blood Markers of Cancers has Looked at Many Proteins Released from Tumors to No Avail
Early diagnosis and prediction of common cancers in a blood test is nothing new. The search for blood markers of cancers has looked at many proteins released from tumors, however none have proven to be very accurate in early detection. They’re sometimes used to monitor the changes in known cancer. Even cancer DNA from tumors has been tested for, but not shown reliable enough for routine use.
Research Intention is to Develop a Test that Could be Available for under $500
The promising research is from John Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. The 2 principles of cancer detection in the blood – DNA mutations and protein markers – are being combined to create a “robust” panel of tests that could be a reliable predictor of cancer. The intention is to develop a test that could be available for under $500.
CancerSEEK
Out of many proteins and mutations, 16 genes and 8 proteins were included in the final test, called CancerSEEK. It is an attempt to detect lung, breast, colon, pancreas, liver, stomach, ovary, and esophageal cancer before symptoms arise. The choice of cancer was do to prevalence and lack of current screening test available.
The Study
The study looked at 1,005 participants, all recently diagnosed with one of these 8t cancers. The signs of cancer could only be detected in roughly 70 percent of these patients. An additional 812 participants, all without a diagnosis of cancer were also tested. Only 7 of these showed positive results – less than 1 percent. It is very important for false positive rates to be very low for a cancer detection method to be even considered.
Research Team Encouraged by Strides They’re Making
The ultimate goal of being able to use this method as a screening tool in people not currently diagnosed with cancer may be yet to come. Currently only about 40 percent of individuals in early stage cancer were found to test positive. This means that the test needs to be further developed, but the research team is encouraged by the progress that they’ve been making.
Source:
- Cohen JD, Li L, Wang Y, et al. Detection and localization of surgically resectable cancers with a multi-analyte blood test. Science. 2018
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Node Smith, ND, is a naturopathic physician in Portland, OR and associate editor for NDNR. He has been instrumental in maintaining a firm connection to the philosophy and heritage of naturopathic medicine among the next generation of docs. He helped found the first multi-generational experiential retreat, which brings elders, alumni, and students together for a weekend camp-out where naturopathic medicine and medical philosophy are experienced in nature. Four years ago he helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic ReVitalization (ANR), for which he serves as the board chairman. ANR has a mission to inspire health practitioners to embody the naturopathic principles through experiential education. Node also has a firm belief that the next era of naturopathic medicine will see a resurgence of in-patient facilities which use fasting, earthing, hydrotherapy and homeopathy to bring people back from chronic diseases of modern living; he is involved in numerous conversations and projects to bring about this vision.
