Researchers lay foundation for future lung cancer detection test
Posted on May 14th, 2011
Scientists working with Professor Dr. Joachim L. Schultze have identified over 480 molecules whose concentration in the blood changes when a person develops lung cancer. These molecules are present in the blood cells either in increased or decreased quantities. “In lung cancer patients, typical patterns which can be detected with a measuring program thus emerge”, explains Prof. Schultze. The molecules are nucleic acids which form in the body when certain genes are transcribed.
The changes in the blood also occur if the tumor is still in a very early stage. In lung cancer, there are four different stages, explains Prof. Schultze: “The prognosis for patients in stage 3 and 4 is still very poor even today; even with the most modern therapies, the point of death can only be postponed.” Lung cancer in stage 1, on the other hand, can be treated surgically and it can even be cured in many cases. “Today, however, a tumor is seldom detected so early, namely in only about 15% of all cases. If a simple screening blood test would increase this percentage, a large proportion of lung cancer patients could survive”, says Prof. Schultze. By contrast, to date, over 80% of all lung cancer patients die within two years after diagnosis, since the tumor is already too far advanced.
Screening for lung cancer: A result within a day
In the future, a lung cancer screening test may become part of routine practice: The doctor takes a blood sample from his/her patient, and within 24 hours, he knows with a high degree of certainty whether the patient has lung cancer or not − even if the patient does not yet have any symptoms.
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Tags: Cancer, Lung Cancer
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