Scientists Start Trialing First Blood Test Against Brain Cancer
Brain tumors, which affects thousands of individuals around the globe, can be diagnosed using various imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans. Some tumors cannot be diagnosed using these techniques, however, which makes it hard for them to be detected earlier.
In the United Kingdom, brain tumors kill more individuals aged 40 and below than any other cancer. Now, researchers have developed a blood test that may revolutionize the diagnosis of brain cancer. The blood test, called the TriNetra-Glio test, may help diagnose patients with different types of brain cancer earlier, which could eliminate the need to undergo invasive surgical biopsies. Earlier diagnosis would also speed up treatment and possibly increase patient rates of survival.
The blood test’s research was funded by Datar Cancer Genetics. Its mechanism of action involves the isolation of glial cells found circulating in the blood.
Scientists at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence determined that the blood test could accurately diagnose different brain tumors, including oligodendrogliomas, astrocytomas and glioblastoma, a common type of high-grade tumor that primarily occurs in adults. Dr. Nelofer Syed stated that an inexpensive and noninvasive method to detect brain tumors early was crucial for improvements in patient care. Syed added that this test could particularly help patients who couldn’t undergo surgical resection of their tumors or even get a biopsy due to the tumor’s location. This technology could make the diagnosis of inaccessible tumors both patient friendly and risk free.
Kevin O’Neill, a Imperial College healthcare NHS trust consultant neurosurgeon, argued that this blood test was a diagnostic liquid biopsy as it detected intact tumor cells circulation in the blood, allowing for easier analysis. He explained that this was a breakthrough for treatment of brain tumors that didn’t spread around the body and added that the test’s use could allow surgeons to administer tailored treatments based on accurate biopsies, which could greatly increase patient survival.
In their report, the researchers stated that the test had high precision, specificity and analytical sensitivity.
Brain Tumour Research CEO Dan Knowles added that this research could contribute to improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors particularly since less than 1% of glioblastoma patients lived for more than a decade. At the moment, glioblastoma survival time averages 14 months. Standard care for patients with glioblastoma includes surgical resection, which is followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The researchers’ findings were reported in the “International Journal of Cancer.” The researchers are now focused on carrying out further research to validate their findings.
If this blood test method of diagnosis for brain cancer proves itself in the field, it could enable the therapeutics made by entities such as CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) to be administered a lot sooner before the disease has progressed or even metastasized.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CNSP
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the BioMedWire website applicable to all content provided by BMW, wherever published or re-published: http://BMW.fm/Disclaimer
Brain tumors, which affects thousands of individuals around the globe, can be diagnosed using various imaging techniques, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans. Some tumors cannot be diagnosed using these techniques, however, which makes it hard for them to be detected earlier.
In the United Kingdom, brain tumors kill more individuals aged 40 and below than any other cancer. Now, researchers have developed a blood test that may revolutionize the diagnosis of brain cancer. The blood test, called the TriNetra-Glio test, may help diagnose patients with different types of brain cancer earlier, which could eliminate the need to undergo invasive surgical biopsies. Earlier diagnosis would also speed up treatment and possibly increase patient rates of survival.
The blood test’s research was funded by Datar Cancer Genetics. Its mechanism of action involves the isolation of glial cells found circulating in the blood.
Scientists at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence determined that the blood test could accurately diagnose different brain tumors, including oligodendrogliomas, astrocytomas and glioblastoma, a common type of high-grade tumor that primarily occurs in adults. Dr. Nelofer Syed stated that an inexpensive and noninvasive method to detect brain tumors early was crucial for improvements in patient care. Syed added that this test could particularly help patients who couldn’t undergo surgical resection of their tumors or even get a biopsy due to the tumor’s location. This technology could make the diagnosis of inaccessible tumors both patient friendly and risk free.
Kevin O’Neill, a Imperial College healthcare NHS trust consultant neurosurgeon, argued that this blood test was a diagnostic liquid biopsy as it detected intact tumor cells circulation in the blood, allowing for easier analysis. He explained that this was a breakthrough for treatment of brain tumors that didn’t spread around the body and added that the test’s use could allow surgeons to administer tailored treatments based on accurate biopsies, which could greatly increase patient survival.
In their report, the researchers stated that the test had high precision, specificity and analytical sensitivity.
Brain Tumour Research CEO Dan Knowles added that this research could contribute to improve outcomes for patients with brain tumors particularly since less than 1% of glioblastoma patients lived for more than a decade. At the moment, glioblastoma survival time averages 14 months. Standard care for patients with glioblastoma includes surgical resection, which is followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The researchers’ findings were reported in the “International Journal of Cancer.” The researchers are now focused on carrying out further research to validate their findings.
If this blood test method of diagnosis for brain cancer proves itself in the field, it could enable the therapeutics made by entities such as CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) to be administered a lot sooner before the disease has progressed or even metastasized.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/CNSP
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the BioMedWire website applicable to all content provided by BMW, wherever published or re-published: http://BMW.fm/Disclaimer
