AMN /
Scientists say, a simple blood test may be used to diagnose five common types of cancers at early stages. These cancers include lung, breast, intestine, stomach and the womb. Researchers from National Institute of Health in US have identified a striking signature in tumour DNA that occurs in these types of cancers. The specific signature results from a chemical modification of DNA called methylation, which can control the expression of genes, researchers said.
Knowing that the tumours often shed DNA into the bloodstream, they calculated the proportions of circulating tumour DNA that could be found in the blood. The findings were published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.
Based on this advance, researchers hope to spur development of a blood test that can be used to diagnose a variety of cancers at early stages, when treatments can be most effective.
Lung cancer is the most frequent cancer in males while Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women across world. And the late diagnosis often results in high death from these cancers.