Using blood plasma samples to detect cancer and pinpoint its anatomical location could be just a few years away from regular medical practice. Dubbed plasma DNA tissue mapping, the approach will allow doctors to ‘visualize’ which organs are affected by cancer, and at what stage, through a blood test.
Choh Ming-li Professor of Chemical Pathology and Assistant Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Rossa Chiu, says the latest developments in human plasma cancer DNA analysis are pushing new boundaries.
“We have developed a brand new technology which takes cancer DNA analysis in plasma, often referred to as ‘liquid biopsies’, to the next level. It can detect abnormal DNA caused by cancer, and also allow us to scan a blood sample in order to locate which organ it is coming from. In simple terms, it enables us to take a CT scan of the blood,” she explains.
“For instance, we might be able to identify that 10% of the DNA in the blood plasma is from the liver and so we know that person has a tumor located in the liver. In the past we have tried to find a marker for liver cancer, but every cancer is very different and no single marker is particularly useful for a specific type of cancer. That means previously we would have detected cancer in a blood sample, then we would do a radiological imaging examination to see if there are shadows in any parts of the body.”
Choh Ming-li Professor of Chemical Pathology and Assistant Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Medicine at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Rossa Chiu, says the latest developments in human plasma cancer DNA analysis are pushing new boundaries.
“We have developed a brand new technology which takes cancer DNA analysis in plasma, often referred to as ‘liquid biopsies’, to the next level. It can detect abnormal DNA caused by cancer, and also allow us to scan a blood sample in order to locate which organ it is coming from. In simple terms, it enables us to take a CT scan of the blood,” she explains.
“For instance, we might be able to identify that 10% of the DNA in the blood plasma is from the liver and so we know that person has a tumor located in the liver. In the past we have tried to find a marker for liver cancer, but every cancer is very different and no single marker is particularly useful for a specific type of cancer. That means previously we would have detected cancer in a blood sample, then we would do a radiological imaging examination to see if there are shadows in any parts of the body.”
Source: ePathWay
