Israeli breakthrough offers hope: Simple blood test could detect lung cancer
A low-cost blood test developed at Tel Aviv University uses light to detect lung cancer; early results distinguished patients from healthy subjects, and trials are underway in Israel and Europe to assess diagnosis and treatment monitoring
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and early detection is crucial for successful treatment. Currently, the main tool for early detection is low-dose CT screening, but it is expensive and often yields false positives. Researchers are exploring alternative methods, such as liquid biopsies, which analyze cell-free DNA found in the bloodstream.
A team at Tel Aviv University developed a simpler and more cost-effective method that uses light to detect cancer signatures in the blood. Instead of sequencing DNA, the method attaches light-emitting molecules to cancer-related DNA changes and reads the resulting signals using a specialized DNA chip. The study, published in npj Precision Oncology, involved 103 participants and demonstrated 93.1% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity in detecting lung cancer. The technique also showed promise in distinguishing between the two main subtypes of lung cancer.
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