Novel non-invasive tests could help in early detection of cancer

May 4th, 2011 - 5:06 pm ICT by ANI  

Washington, May 4 (ANI): Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News (GEN) has released a report on researchers’ demonstrations of novel non-invasive tests for early cancer detection.

The researchers last month demonstrated that they are intensifying their efforts to identify and validate various types of biomarkers that are detectable in blood and urine.

The goal of such tests is to detect biosignatures that are more specific and sensitive than existing diagnostic modalities.

“The molecular diagnostic approach is geared towards finding tumours earlier in the course of disease,” says John Sterling, Editor in Chief of GEN.

“This could reduce the need for more invasive and costly biopsies and imaging studies and lead to earlier therapeutic intervention,” he added.

At last month’s AACR conference in Orlando, Harvey Pass, New York University Langone Medical Center and Cancer Center, discussed his group’s experience working in collaboration with SomaLogic to develop an aptamer-based diagnostic to detect malignant mesothelioma in asbestos-exposed individuals.

Pass presented data derived from the application of biomarker subsets to a blinded test set, demonstrating 100 percent specificity and 80 percent sensitivity for their ability to distinguish asbestos-exposed controls from mesothelioma cases. (ANI)

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