More than 2 years ago, Tomasetti and Vogelstein brought that question to prominence when they tried to sort out environmental versus inherited causes of cancer. They examined the extent to which stem cell divisions in healthy cells—and the random mutations, or “bad luck” that accumulate—drive cancer in different tissues.
Vogelstein and Tomasetti developed new test that successfully detected cancers 70 per cent of the time in trials. and they stated that ".. Our study lays the conceptual and practical foundation for a single, multi-analyte blood test for cancers of many types. We estimate the cost of the test to be less than $500, which is comparable or lower than other screening tests for single cancers, such as colonoscopy. The eight cancer types studied here account for 360,000 (60%) of the estimated cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2017 and their earlier detection could conceivably reduce deaths from these diseases. To actually establish the clinical utility of CancerSEEK and to demonstrate that it can save lives, prospective studies of all incident cancer types in a large population will be required. ..." now
It is not easy to understand how cancer became an easily detectable disease from bad luck?
I am still suspicious about cancerSEEK test (already existed cancer- why it is called cancerSEEK?). Our aim is to develop a test to catch tumor volume and site even in the thousands of cells already existed at its primary site. Concerning the breast cancer, I donot know that this test is homogenously active in all molecular subtypes
I am afraid that by the time blood test is positive - that is cancer cells are in the circulation - it may be too late. Nevertheless, it seems to be a step in the right direction
There is a lot of literatue about circulating tumor cells (CTC) and even about circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Breast cancer studies about detection of CTC (even in very early stages of the disease such as pT1N0M0) and its relation to high risk of relapse or worse survival. Lung cancer studies with ctDNA also ....
I dont know if this test CancerSEEK can detect CTC or ctDNA, and i wonder if it can distinguish between different cancer types or just says ther is cancer anywhere. Because it will be very interesting for example if the test says there is lung cancer cells, then we will proceed to more invasive procedures and imaging techniques like bronchoscopy, CT, PET, etc. The same for endoscopy for gastrintestinal tumors, IMR for breast and so... Iam not only thinking in people with money...but in people at high risk like Lynch, BRCA carriers or even heavy smokers....
... N.P., S. Z., K.W.K., L.D., and B.V. are founders of Personal Genome Diagnostics, Inc. and PapGene, Inc. B.V. and K.W.K are on the Scientific Advisory Board of Sysmex-Inostics. B.V. is also on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Exelixis GP. R.H.H. is on the Board of Directors of MiDiagnostics. ...
Interestıng
It may be better to use it in routine practice after validation is established related to hard outcomes. That will be achieved with highstandard science. Also, its value and cost-benefit analyses must be favorable.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Molecular Biology