In the realm of cancer research and treatment, the buzzword of the decade is early detection. More than new treatment methods, what's causing excitement in the cancer world is the potential for early detection, specifically through blood testing and detecting DNA, also
known as liquid biopsies. Although it's still early days, the advances in this area are promising.
At present, we have around five screening tests for various types of cancer, however these
tests only account for the detection of approximately 30% of all cancers. The majority of
cancers, around 70%, are diagnosed without a screening test; this is where the potential of
liquid biopsies comes into play. These tests claim they can identify up to 50 different types of
cancers, which is a significant increase from the current capabilities.
The process involves a regular blood test, during which the technicians look for DNA from
cancer cells. Cancer cells tend to shred their DNA into the bloodstream, which can then be
detected. However, not all cancers shred DNA in the same way, making some more difficult to detect than others.
To understand this better, we need to delve into the nature of cancer cells. Essentially, cancer
occurs when one of our cells goes rogue and grows in a different way than the normal cell
would. It replicates itself and the body cannot detect that it's the wrong one. We form these
rogue cells all the time, but usually, our immune system picks them up and kills them.
However, these rogue cells sometimes manage to hide their true nature, and the body doesn't pick them up. When they start growing, they form growths, and these growths are cancers.
As these cancer cells grow, some of them die and shred some DNA in the process. This DNA
signature can be detected in the bloodstream and tested for. The main issue with these tests
currently is their sensitivity. The ability of the test to pick up a cancer at stage one is still
relatively low, averaging around 16%. For stage two, it doubles to about 40% and for stage
three, it's about 70%. However, the goal is to increase the sensitivity for stage one cancers, as these are the early ones we want to detect.
A large-scale study involving 140,000 people is currently ongoing in the UK's National Health
Service, specifically using this test. The results of this study will be looked at by the end of
the year. If they are satisfactory, an additional one million people will be enrolled for the
years 2024 and 2025. Thus, within the next five years, we should have a lot more data to
support the efficacy of this method.
However, there is a significant emotional factor to consider. If a stage one tumor is detected
through this liquid biopsy, it might still be too small to see. This creates a scenario where a patient knows they have a cancer somewhere in their body, but it's not yet visible on a scan, and this can cause significant emotional stress. Some people won't be able to cope with this
information and won't be able to deal with the fact that something is there, but nothing can
be done about it yet.
Despite these challenges, the potential of liquid biopsies is enormous. In the future, it might
even be possible to identify which chemotherapies might work for a specific DNA signature
and then target the treatment accordingly. This method could mark a significant shift in
cancer treatment and early detection. The fact that we could potentially screen for 50
possible cancers, compared to the five or so we can currently screen for, is a massive change. The key will be figuring out how to implement this into practice, handle the cost, and manage the emotional implications of early detection.
Takeaways: The Importance of Early Screening
Early screening and detection are crucial in the fight against cancer. Currently, skin and colon cancers are two that both men and women should screen for, given their common occurrence and the effectiveness of the screening tests.
For men, prostate cancer is another concern. It's advisable to start early screenings, especially if there's a family history of these cancers.
For women, breast cancer is a major concern, and again, family history plays a crucial role. If
there's a family history of the BRCA gene, it's vital to know and begin screenings early.
The goal is to detect any potential cancers at an early stage, where they can be treated and
possibly cured. Until we have better tools and methods for detection, early screening
remains our best defense against this disease.
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