Researchers have been able to identify over 800 markers found in the blood of patients suffering from cancer which could lead to the development of a single blood test for the early identification of several cancer types.
The study, which received funding from Cancer Research UK, was carried out by the UK Early Cancer Detection Consortium, which is a group that pools together experts across several disciplines from over 20 hospitals, universities and commercial partners.
The research was presented at the National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Conference that was held in Liverpool on Nov. 2.
After analyzing 19,000 scientific papers, the group of researchers identified over 800 biomarkers. This marks the first time that the blood markers that appear specific to cancer have been identified after comprehensive studies, to be used for further clinical studies.
The ultimate aim of the study is to be able to create a blood screening test that will be able to detect several types of cancer on just one blood sample. All forms of cancers create markers in the victim's blood, which would make the development of a comprehensive screening test feasible across all forms of the disease.
To serve as background for the study's presentation at the conference, it was revealed that the rate of early cancer detection in the UK is lower compared to most Western nations. Survival from the disease also remains poor compared to these other countries.
Currently, early cancer detection in the UK is only limited to instances when the cancer was observed through specific screening programs held nationally for cervical, bowel and breast cancer, or through incidental radiological tests.
This prevailing problem in the UK led to the formation of the Early Cancer Detection Consortium in 2012 by 15 universities in the UK, which seeks to identify, confirm and implement newly-developed blood tests for the early detection of the tumors of cancer.
Improving the early detection of cancer will be able to improve the survival rate of cancer patients in the UK as more treatment options are available and more effective in the early stages of the disease, even for the rarer kinds of cancer.
According to Ian Cree, an author of the study from the University of Warwick and the University Hospital in Coventry, the group believes that all the relevant blood markers have been identified with their review, with the next step for the project to determine which markers are the best ones for the early detection of cancer.
According to the director of early diagnosis of Cancer Research UK, Sara Hiom, the goal of the organization is that three out of every four patients suffering from cancer will be able to survive at least 10 years from the first detection of the cancer.
