A new blood test could detect lung cancer early
Lung cancer is often diagnosed when it is too late. Scientists at Duke University Medical Center (USA) are developing a blood test to detect lung cancer at an early stage. to identify with a tool called MALDI-TOF-MS to proteins in the blood that signal inflammatory diseases and cancer. Identification of a protein that causes the disease enables doctors to diagnose the disease and do something soon. Patients with lung cancer have elevated levels of serum amyloid A (a protein). Radiologists are now able to identify to this protein using MALDI-TOF-MS.Accordingly, the amyloid intention of developing a blood test that measures the serum levels of A (and other proteins associated with lung cancer) before the tumor (UKTumour) is clinically recognizable. A scientist at Duke
University (Dr. Patz) said that his technique is in reverse order. Instead of a defective gene and then their corresponding proteins, caused by the disease protein are resetting themselves. He described how MALDI-TOF-MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time / time of flight mass spectrometry) in two studies, published in the journal Proteomics used (September 2003 issue).Dr. Patz also said that MALDI-TOF-MS is better and more sensitive than other techniques. MALDI-TOF-MS can detect low molecular weight protein, acidic and basic, and in much lower concentrations than other methods. PET and CT had no significant effect on mortality from lung cancer. Survival rates have remained stubbornly around 14% in the last five years.