Novel Blood Test Helps Improve Cancer Treatments
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Loading... - Gisela Roth
- 03 Jul 2024
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Oncologists typically use biopsy and imaging techniques to diagnose and monitor tumors, as well as to assess treatment success. Researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) and the University Hospital Zurich (USZ) have now advanced a method for analyzing liquid biopsies of DNA fragments in the blood, offering a fast and practical alternative that minimizes patient discomfort. This innovation holds the potential for more personalized cancer diagnostics and treatments in the future.
Advantages of Early Detection and Individualized Monitoring
Early cancer detection significantly increases the likelihood of effective treatment, applicable to nearly all cancer types. Individual assessment of therapy benefits and risks, along with regular monitoring of treatment progress, are crucial for successful patient outcomes. Traditional methods include imaging technology and invasive procedures like tissue biopsies and endoscopic exams.
Innovative Liquid Biopsy Method
The UZH and USZ researchers have refined a liquid biopsy method that analyzes blood samples instead of organs or tissues. This method sequences and examines DNA fragments circulating in the blood of cancer patients. "Our method can be used in the future for risk assessments, treatment monitoring during follow-up care, and early detection of cancer recurrence, in principle for all types of tumors," says Zsolt Balázs, co-first author of the study at the UZH Department of Quantitative Biomedicine.
Benefits of Liquid Biopsies
The blood-based method is less invasive than traditional tissue biopsies, making it faster and more practical in clinical settings, reducing the need for frequent diagnostic interventions. This efficiency spares patients from lengthy waits and multiple hospital visits.
Improved Diagnostic Accuracy and Personalized Treatment
Liquid biopsies help oncologists better determine tumor activity and spread, enabling more tailored therapies for individual patients. "We can see earlier and more quickly how much the cancer has spread in the body and how well a patient is responding to a specific treatment, or whether there will be a relapse," explains Zsolt Balázs.
In laboratory settings, researchers analyzed gene fragments in the blood for DNA changes characteristic of specific cancer types. The method examined alterations in the number and length distribution of these fragments. "The liquid biopsy technique enables us to discriminate between biologically less and more aggressive metastatic cancer disease - perhaps even earlier than using imaging technology," says co-first author Panagiotis Balermpas, a professor at the Department of Radiation Oncology at USZ.
Application to HPV-Positive Patients and Head and Neck Cancer
The method was tested on patients undergoing radiotherapy, including those with HPV-positive cancer. HPV, or human papillomavirus, can also cause cancer. Researchers monitored the number of HPV DNA fragments in the blood to observe tumor development. For head and neck cancer, a higher concentration of HPV DNA could indicate an early sign of cancer recurrence, potentially treatable with immunotherapy.
Conclusion: Individualized Treatment and Quality of Life
"The more a tumor metastasizes, the poorer the patient’s quality of life. This also applies to local recurrences that aren’t detected early. It is key that we individualize treatment as far as possible, taking into account the potential benefits of all therapies as well as their influence on the patient’s quality of life," concludes Balermpas, who oversaw the treatment of patients with head and neck tumors in the study.
This novel blood test offers a promising approach to improving cancer treatments by enabling early detection, personalized therapy, and better quality of life for patients.
