Political Junky
Gold Member
- May 27, 2009
- 25,793
- 3,990
- 280
This sounds phenomenal.
Cancer blood tests getting closer to tissue biopsies in results
One of the next big advances in cancer treatment will be the development of blood tests, called liquid or blood biopsies, that can monitor the growth of tumors by analyzing DNA shed from tumors into the bloodstream, several cancer experts tell Axios. Multiple research facilities and biotech companies are developing and testing these biopsies, but before they'll be seen in the clinic they need to lower the costs and prove the tests are reliable and lead to patients living longer.
The bottom line: The blood tests could help determine more precise treatments for cancers proven stubbornly hard to treat, like brain cancer. "In my opinion, there is very little doubt it will be" available soon, said Mark Roschewski, a staff clinician at the lymphoid malignancies branch at the National Cancer Institute. "Only question is when and at what breadth."
Where it stands: A significant amount of cancer research is now about fine-tuning the testing, lowering the genetic sequencing costs, and proving the clinical worth, Roschewski says. Shiuh-Wen Luoh, a medical oncologist at Oregon Health and Science University, agrees: "For today and tomorrow, it may stay in the academic arena."
<more>
Cancer blood tests getting closer to tissue biopsies in results
One of the next big advances in cancer treatment will be the development of blood tests, called liquid or blood biopsies, that can monitor the growth of tumors by analyzing DNA shed from tumors into the bloodstream, several cancer experts tell Axios. Multiple research facilities and biotech companies are developing and testing these biopsies, but before they'll be seen in the clinic they need to lower the costs and prove the tests are reliable and lead to patients living longer.
The bottom line: The blood tests could help determine more precise treatments for cancers proven stubbornly hard to treat, like brain cancer. "In my opinion, there is very little doubt it will be" available soon, said Mark Roschewski, a staff clinician at the lymphoid malignancies branch at the National Cancer Institute. "Only question is when and at what breadth."
Where it stands: A significant amount of cancer research is now about fine-tuning the testing, lowering the genetic sequencing costs, and proving the clinical worth, Roschewski says. Shiuh-Wen Luoh, a medical oncologist at Oregon Health and Science University, agrees: "For today and tomorrow, it may stay in the academic arena."
<more>