We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




New Identification Method for Cancerous DNA to Reduce Need for Painful Biopsy Surgery

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 09 Sep 2024

Currently, most cancer patients must undergo an invasive and expensive surgical biopsy to remove a tissue sample from their tumor to determine the best treatment options. More...

However, all individuals have small amounts of DNA that circulate freely in their blood, which is not confined within blood cells. In cancer patients, some of this circulating free DNA (ctDNA) originates from their tumors. This ctDNA differs from their normal circulating DNA as it carries mutations that have turned these cells from healthy to cancerous. Thus, ctDNA can provide insights into the cancer's characteristics and indicate which treatments might be most effective. Existing methods to analyze ctDNA are hampered by its low abundance and the presence of a larger quantity of non-cancerous DNA in the blood samples.

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, UK) are now developing a novel method to identify cancerous DNA that could reduce the need for painful biopsies. This new technique, known as SNARE, aims to simplify the processing of blood samples to enhance the detection and characterization of cancerous DNA. The team is working on creating both robotic benchtop systems and microfluidic platforms (similar to certain types of lateral flow tests) and will evaluate these methods using blood samples from breast cancer patients to achieve more sensitive ctDNA detection and reduce the need for expensive DNA sequencing.

In patients with advanced-stage cancer, significant amounts of DNA in the bloodstream can often be detected, but by this stage, it is frequently too late for a cure. On the other hand, in early-stage cancer patients, where treatment success rates are higher, over 99% of the circulating free DNA typically originates from healthy cells, complicating the identification of cancerous mutations. The Heriot-Watt research team plans to further develop MicroSNARE, which they have already tested in the lab, with the aim of diagnosing, analyzing, and characterizing tumors at an earlier stage. They also aim to detect cancer recurrence before it can progress and spread. MicroSNARE promises a groundbreaking, less invasive approach to cancer detection, potentially enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention.

Related Links:
Heriot-Watt University


New
Gold Member
Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®
Collection and Transport System
PurSafe Plus®
Gold Member
Immunochromatographic Assay
CRYPTO Cassette
Capillary Blood Collection Tube
IMPROMINI M3
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New evidence shows viscoelastic testing can improve assessment of blood clotting during postpartum hemorrhage (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage

Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The tool enables scientists to track real-time fluctuations in T cell function with unprecedented speed and precision (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Luminescent Probe Measures Immune Cell Activity in Real Time

The human immune system plays a vital role in defending against disease, but its activity must be precisely monitored to ensure effective treatment in cancer therapy, autoimmune disorders, and organ transplants.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The collaboration supports clinical validation and regulatory submissions of the new T1D 4-plex assay on Revvity’s GSP instrument (Photo courtesy of Revvity)

Revvity and Sanofi Collaborate on Program to Revolutionize Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys the pancreas’s insulin-producing beta cells, leading to dependence on insulin therapy. Early detection is critical... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.