Different forms of cancer can be identified by a single biomarker

One test is able to diagnose oncological diseases of many types

Roman Ivanov, ComputerAt a conference held by the National Institute for Cancer Research (NCRI), scientists from the Institute of Radiation Oncology and Biology at the University of Oxford (all – UK) reported on a new diagnostic method they created (Cornelissen et al., In vivo imaging of DNA damage response during tumorigenesis).

With its help, it was possible to detect breast cancer in mice a few weeks before the appearance of clinically detectable tumors.

According to the researchers, the same biomarker is present in malignant neoplasms that form in the lungs, on the skin, in the kidneys and bladder.

The method is based on determining the presence of only one biomarker – the gammaH2AX signaling protein produced in cells in response to damage to their DNA. It is believed that the appearance of this signal is one of the first steps on the cell's path to the "dark side" – cancer rebirth.

The scientists used a specific antibody as a highly selective ligand, and the analytical signal was a label based on radioactive material bound to the ligand. The fact that a highly active focus of grouping radioactivity is detected against the background of noise is regarded as a sign of the potential presence of a cancerous tumor in this place or a high concentration of as yet disconnected cancer cells.

A young tumor consisting of only a few cancer cells (shown in yellow)As experimental animals, the authors of the technique used genetically modified mice prone to oncological diseases of various types.

In this case, after at least 120 days of life, neoplasms can be detected by touch. On the other hand, the method of early diagnosis proposed by the British made it possible to determine the future focus of cancer after 90-100 days of the rodent's life.

In addition to the possibility of very early visual detection of malignant tumors, this diagnostic technique opens the way to the creation of targeted (!) radiotherapy for cancer. It is only necessary to increase the level of radioactivity of the tags, as radioactive antibodies that flock to the site of damage to the genetic material will create a fairly high and at the same time quite local radiation dose necessary to destroy the tumor (in any case, the harm inflicted on the rest of the body should be incomparably lower than with traditional irradiation).

Prepared by the BBC: One Test May 'find Many Cancers'.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru07.11.2012