DNA test developed to spot cancers: Scientists

Scientists have developed a new genetic test for cancer,a major breakthrough which they claim could allow doctors to...

Scientists have developed a new genetic test for cancer,a major breakthrough which they claim could allow doctors to identify the hidden primary tumours and pave the way for more effective treatment for the disease.

A team at Imperial College London has come up with the revolutionary DNA test which will not only help patients avoid unnecessary treatment and invasive tests,but also ensure they get the right drug treatment earlier.

Cancer specialist Dr Harpreet Wasan,who is heading a study of the technique,said,This could have a major impact on the way we diagnose and treat thousands of cancer patients and save lives. In fact,the test,which can give results within days,is based on the fact that different cancers have different DNA fingerprints and patients tissue samples will be analysed to identify the specific types of cancer they have. The results will then be used to identify the right treatment drugs without invasive and time-consuming tests like colonoscopies and other forms of endoscopies,the Sunday Express reported.

Dr Wasan said the new test will minimise the risk of misdiagnosis which he believes happens in up to 15 per cent of cancer patients. If tissue samples from a patient with cancerous cells in the liver reveal the disease originated in the breast,they should be treated with drugs for breast,not liver cancer. Currently it can take weeks or months to identify the source of the cancer in patients with advanced cancer that has spread and for some,the primary tumour is so small that it is never discovered, he said.