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The oncologists participating in the research emphasize the importance of this type of test for early diagnosis in cancers such as pancreas, small intestine or stomach, where there are still no other widespread screening options.
Up to 50 types of cancer could be detected with a simple blood test in an undiagnosed population without symptoms of the disease. disease, according to research presented this Sunday at the congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), held in Paris.
The study, coordinated by oncologist Deborah Schrag, has been presented as a pioneer in the early diagnosis of cancer through a test that detects whether there is presence of circulating tumor DNA in the blood, derived from the tumor and present in the bloodstream even when there are no signs of the disease in the patient.
The research, conducted by oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, bases its results on a blood test carried out on 6.621 people over 50 years of age who had not been diagnosed with cancer nor had symptoms of the disease.
Of them, practically 99% tested negative, that is, they were free of the disease, while signs of cancer were detected in 1,4%. However, Of that 1,4%, only 38% of the cancer was confirmed with a subsequent positive test.
With these results, oncologists understand that early detection of cancer with a simple blood test opens a new era to rule out the presence of the disease and improve cancer mortality and morbidity, not the incidence.
They maintain that 38% positive in cancer patients is a "good" percentage and an important step for early detection with this tool, while the fact that The test being able to detect 99% negative results in patients free of the disease represents an "excellent" rate and demonstrates the ability of the test to rule out the tumor.
Once the test was positive, it took, on average, less than two months to confirm the diagnosis if they had cancer and a little longer, around three, if they did not have it, mainly because the doctors opted to do imaging studies. and repeat them a second time months later.
A disadvantage of the test is that false positives can lead to a series of invasive procedures for the patient. -such as endoscopies or biopsies- but few participants required it.
This, the research says, should help allay concerns that these tests could cause harm by generating unnecessary procedures for people who are well.
Furthermore, the oncologists participating in the research emphasize the importance of this type of test for early diagnosis in cancers such as pancreas, small intestine or stomach, where there are still no other widespread screening options.
Source: Heraldo de Aragón
