An innovative blood test to detect cancer cells could eventually replace conventional methods. Earlier diagnosis could possibly be one of the biggest benefits provided by the new cancer blood test. The blood examination could also help accurately determine if cancer treatments are working and show whether patients become cancer-free.
Cancer remedy breakthrough ahead of us
A brand new cancer blood test is being developed by medical researchers at Harvard University and Johnson & Johnson scientists. Instead of invasive biopsies and uncomfortable mammograms or colonoscopies, drawing a single teaspoon of blood might produce more reliable outcomes. The blood examination would search for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in order to find cancer. These cells are found within the bloodstream looking for other organs within the body after coming off of a tumor. Medical researchers speculate that CTCs are the agent that allows cancer to spread. The number of CTCs found could mean a lot for the patient. The patient's health could be determined this way.
Working the cancer blood test
There’s a microchip about the size of a business card the cancer blood examination utilizes. There are 78,000 tiny posts in it. Cancer cells are drawn from the blood sample because of antibodies on the posts. Healthy blood cells bounce off the posts while the cancer cells stick to them. The cancer cells are effortlessly counted and analyzed considering there is dye added to the posts. This means that the cancerous cells will glow. The new cancer blood test is very sensitive to cancerous cells also. In fact, out of millions of healthy blood cells, just one cancerous cell will be detected. The cells aren't just counted. They may soon have a gene analysis done to them which could lead to cancer treatments that are very effective.
Clinical use in three-to-5 years
There are some cancerous patients that will benefit more from the brand new cancer blood examination than others. These contain anyone with prostate, bladder, colon, kidney and lung cancer. New drugs have to be approved by the FDA within the process. This process is something Johnson & Johnson has invested $30 million into. Medical use will happen with the drug very soon. In about 3 to five years the procedure might be available.
Information from
Business Week
businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/648465.html
Healthy Living
knowabouthealth.com/single-cancer-cell-can-be-detected-using-sensitive-microchip/7419/
CBS News
cbsnews.com/stories/2011/01/03/eveningnews/main7209692.shtml
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