‘Smoke detector’ cancer test could save thousands of lives by spotting the disease before symptoms appear
Test means doctors can detect mutant cancer cells in the blood earlier than ever before
A SIMPLE blood test that works like a smoke detector and spots cancer before symptoms appear could save thousands of lives.
British scientists are developing the test, which can detect mutant cancer cells earlier than ever before.
It could be used to screen those most at risk of tumours, giving doctors a chance to treat them much sooner.
Early diagnosis is a key factor in cancer survival rates.
So far the inexpensive and quick test has been used only on patients with suspected cancer of the oesophagus.
But scientists at Swansea University hope it can work for other types.
Rather than looking for the cancer itself, it detects potentially deadly mutations in red blood cells when the disease is present.
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Researcher Professor Gareth Jenkins said: “A smoke detector does not detect the presence of fire in our homes but its by-product — smoke.
“This test detects cancer by detecting the ‘smoke’ — the mutated blood cells. The old adage of no smoke without fire also applies to ‘no cancer without mutation’.”
The test detects missing “sticky” proteins on the surface of red blood cells — a sign of mutation. Scientists then count these to establish early signs of cancer.
The test was tried on 300 volunteers with highly encouraging results and scientists now plan larger-scale studies, the British Festival of Science in Swansea was told.