A team of researchers from the UK has developed a blood test capable of detecting individual cancer cells. Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, the team was able to detect and monitor lung cancer in real time. This will in turn helped in reducing diagnostic delays and improve lung cancer patients’ outcomes. The team detected a single lung cancer cell in blood of patients.
Focus on the Chemical Fingerprint of Cancer Cells
The researchers from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Keele University and Loughborough University said that they focused on the unique chemical fingerprint of cancer cells. By combined advanced infrared scanning technology with computer analysis to focus on unique chemical fingerprint of cancer cells.
Potential for Earlier Diagnosis and Personalized Treatment
The lead author said, “this approach has the potential to help patients receive earlier diagnoses, personalised treatments and fewer invasive procedures, and it could eventually be applied to many types of cancer beyond lung cancer.”
Understanding Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs)
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are those cancer cells that break away from a tumor and drift through the bloodstream. The main issue is that finding these tiny cells is not easy. Also, they can change as they travel through the blood which implies that some tests may miss them completely. The current methods for detecting CTCs are complicated, expensive and time-consuming.
A Simpler and More Affordable Detection Method
With this new method, they take a much simpler approach. They shine a powerful infrared light into a blood sample -similar to the light in a TV remote control but far more powerful. By using a computer to analyse the pattern, scientists can quickly tell whether these cancer cells are present in the blood or not.
Study Publication and Next Steps
The findings of the study have been published in the Applied Spectroscopy journal. It is simpler and more affordable as compared to existing approaches. The team now aims to test this method in larger patient groups to develop a rapid, automated blood test that could be integrated into cancer care pathways.
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only.
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