Lung cancer: diagnosis without biopsy
A blood test helps to determine lung cancer by CT
Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+
Computed tomography remains the most common method of primary diagnosis of lung cancer, however, in controversial cases, invasive biopsy is prescribed to patients. Scientists have shown that a simple blood test that analyzes the level of two important cancer biomarkers can solve this problem.
Researchers from the University of Missouri have discovered a biomarker in the blood that allows to increase the accuracy of computed tomography during an examination for suspected cancer, writes EurekAlert.
Article by Manjunath et al. Circulating Tumor-Macrophage Fusion Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells Complement Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Screening in Patients With Suspicious Lung-RADS 4 Nodules published in the journal Precision Oncology – VM.
Currently, due to the high risks of false positive results, in order to distinguish non-small cell lung cancer from benign nodes, scientists prescribe biopsies to some patients.
Now it will be possible to reduce the number of unnecessary invasive procedures to a minimum, the authors expect. The new test analyzes circulating tumor cells (CCCs) in human blood, as well as tumor-associated macrophages (TMF). Previously, scientists have found that both biomarkers have a high informative value for predicting poor survival in lung cancer.
The accuracy of the test was assessed in 221 volunteers: 90 patients had non—small cell lung cancer, 37 had suspected cancer, the remaining 74 were at increased risk of cancer. Twenty people were healthy, had never smoked and formed a control group.
High levels of biomarkers were found in all people with cancer and in the vast majority with suspected cancer. In the control group, volunteers were not found to have CSC, and patients with benign neoplasms did not have TMF.
"The additional use of liquid biopsy instruments together with standard cancer diagnostic methods can significantly improve the accuracy of results in people with high cancer risks," said Yusuf Kaifi, the author of the work. Scientists expect that the introduction of the test into clinical practice will reduce unnecessary biopsies.
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