Diagnosing any type of cancer in its initial phases can significantly improve healing options, especially if it can be done through a simple, little invasive test, and that can be implemented in clinical practice. Now, a new study by the Queen Mary University shows that a simple Blood analysis allows you to identify chemical signals associated with different types of cancer And it could become a key tool to detect the disease in its early stages, which would facilitate its treatment in up to 50% of cases.
Researchers have evaluated whether the periodic application of a Multiple cancer detection test (known as Mced, for its acronym in English) –Well once a year, or every two years – could advance the diagnosis and improve the prognosis of patients. The results have been published in BMJ Open and show that this type of test would allow detect between 31% and 49% of tumors in initial phases (stages I and II) otherwise, they would be diagnosed in advanced phases (stages III and IV).
At present, screening programs are only available for some types of cancer, such as breast, colon, cervix and, in high -risk people, lung and, although these tests have managed to reduce mortality, they can also lead to excessive false positives and diagnoses.
Annual screening detected more tumors and avoided more cancer deaths
To perform their analysis, researchers used a previously published model that simulates the evolution of various types of cancer. From it, they calculated the impact that the systematic realization of the MCED test on the moment of diagnosis and survival of patients would have, according to different screening frequencies.
The types of cancer included in the study were very varied: anus, bladder, breast, cervix, colon and straight, esophagus, gallbladder, head and neck, kidney, liver and bile ducts, lung, ovary, pancreas, prostate, sarcomas (soft tissues and bones), stomach, thyroid, urothelial tract Leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma and other blood cancers.
According to the models, all the scribbed strategies with the MCE test surpassed the traditional approach to detection in early stages. The impact was greater on rapid growth tumors (which pass from stage I to II in 2 to 4 years) than in very aggressive tumors (which progress more quickly between stages). The annual screening offered better results: it detected more tumors and avoided more deaths in a period of five years, compared to the biennial screening.
“Our models suggest that even with a frequency once every three years, many advanced cases could be avoided, but it seems likely that an annual blood test is the most appropriate option for the detection of multiple cancers”
In a simulated scenario, where 392 people would be diagnosed every year with aggressive cancer with a fatal prognosis in a period of five years, the screening every two years could avoid 54 deaths (14%), while, if it was done annually, up to 84 deaths (21%) could be prevented.
“When deciding the frequency with which the screening must be offered, you have to find a balance between saving more lives and optimizing the resources and discomforts it implies. In general, the faster a cancer progresses, the more frequent the screening must be the screening. Our models suggest that even with a frequency of once every three years, many advanced cases could be avoided, but an annual test would maximize the benefits. Everything will depend on the cost. An annual blood test is the most appropriate option for the detection of multiple cancers, ”concluded Professor Peter Sasieni, an expert in Cancer Epidemiology and co -director of the Center for screening, prevention and early diagnosis of cancer of the Queen Mary University, which has led the study, in a note published by the center.
Source: www.webconsultas.com