Could A Simple Blood Test Detect Cancer?

A new comprehensive study could help bring blood tests that actually detect cancer.

Recent findings discussed on Sunday at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) in Liverpool examined the difficult question: "What biomarkers exist that could be used to develop a general cancer screening assay from blood sampling and what is their state of development?"

For the recent research, the study authors reviewed 19,000 scientific papers and identified over 800 markers in the blood of cancer patients. They discovered 800 biomarkers , which they are hoping to develop a screening test with a single blood test.

Yet this one test could hold the potential to recognize the presence of multiple types of cancer. As all cancers produce markers in the blood, it could be feasible to develop this general screening test for many different forms of disease, as well.

"This is a new approach to early detection and the first time such a systematic review has been done," said study author professor Ian Cree, a Cancer Research UK funded scientist at the University of Warwick and University Hospital in Coventry, in a news release. "A single blood-based screening test would be a game changer for early detection of cancer which could help make it a curable disease for many more patients. We believe that we've identified all the relevant biomarkers; the next step is working out which ones work the best for spotting cancers."

Sara Hiom, director of early diagnosis at Cancer Research UK, added that the findings are an innovative approach to new diagnositic tests, although in the early stages.