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"10-minute cancer test" reported under development

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Posted 12/6/2018 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
This was announced this evening across various news sources. The article below gives details. It is a test that is not yet available for general use, but has been described as promising.

From the article:

"Scientists have created an experimental test that can detect cancer in less than 10 minutes. The test uses a DNA feature that seems to be common to all types of cancer and does not occur in healthy tissue."

"DNA fragments from cancer cells adopt a unique structure in water."

"The researchers uncovered the same "DNA signature" in samples of breast, prostate, and bowel cancer tissue as well as in lymphoma cells.

" ...up to 90 percent accurate."

"Prof. Trau says that it (the test) can happen "in one drop of fluid" and that you can see the change in color (in the test vial) with the naked eye."

"He and his team have already created an inexpensive and portable form of this technology that could, one day, be available on cell phones."

This is all still in its early stages, of course, but may be promising.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323898.php
Posted 12/6/2018 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
That will be interesting.
Posted 12/6/2018 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
I wonder how sensitive the test is to very early stage and potentially indolent cancers. Will it trigger lots of alarms due to early latent prostate cancer or breast cancer that may not otherwise be detectable and may never be a problem. Likewise very early, not yet visible basal cell carcinomas, etc. Will it leave large numbers of patients knowing they have some kind of cancer somewhere but no idea of what kind, where, or if it is really dangerous?
Posted 12/6/2018 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
Bohemond -

Excellent questions. Yes, the very kinds of thoughts I was having after reading the article. One would (and should) have very serious issues with a test that tells you that you have PCa, but then is unable to indicate whether it's G6 or G9, and is silent about such matters as mets, or other significant issues.

But I'm sure the people who are developing this test are aware of these questions, and will work to develop a suitable protocol for its use, especially concerning communication of findings to patients.

I suspect that what will likely be the function of this kind of test, if it ever does come into common use, is that it will serve as a first step, to identify just the presence of PCa, the next step being the traditional biopsy, and the steps that have normally followed from that.

Now if they ever could develop a 10-minute test that would reliably report PCa status AND G-score AND degree of mets, AND ... etc., now that would be something.
Posted 12/6/2018 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
If I understand though, the test doesn't differentiate between types of cancer. So the downsides we already wrestle with concerning early detection of potentially non-threatening PCa would then be greatly multiplied by a test that shows only that there is some amount of some type of cancer somewhere, but we don't know where or if it is really a threat worthy of who knows how many intrusive and expensive tests. Maybe this test is more subtle than described in the article. But if it isn't, I wonder if it would cause more harm than good by turning otherwise healthy people into panicked patients determined to hunt down and treat things that aren't yet, and may never be a threat. Put another way, I suspect most of us, especially as we get older, have some kind of cancerous cells in our body at least some of the time, even though many of them may be kept in check by our immune systems or may never grow to a level that is a true threat.
Jim
Posted 12/7/2018 10:53 AM (GMT 0)
Another potentially useful screening tool. And, like all screening tools, so much will depend on how it is used, and how it's utility is explained to patients. I can see potential advantages in earlier detection of some really aggressive, hard to diagnose cancers (such as pancreatic--which is generally not detected until it is way too late to deal with).

On a more general note, screening is only valuable when it is done with thought and care. The limitations of the tool used MUST be well understood. I see it as a 'bell curve issue'. How do we benefit the largest possible segment of the population (the center of the curve), without either overtreating those on one end of the curve or missing those on the other end of the curve who need to be identified early?
Posted 12/7/2018 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
an early detection test would be good for many cancers.

but threatens the planet again with over treatment.
Posted 12/7/2018 4:21 PM (GMT 0)
Assuming a 10-minute cancer test were indeed to became practical someday, and actually used widely in doctors' offices, who knows if eventually we might see advertisements like this:

Afraid you may have cancer? Well then, set aside your fears by taking the all-new 10-minute home cancer test, now available in pharmacies everywhere!

The specter of false positives (or negatives) resulting from such tests conducted in the privacy of one's home, due to user error or such, and their impact, is mind-boggling.

But someone might say "We have home pregnancy tests on the market right now, so what's the difference?" Well, the difference is that pregnancy is not usually a potentially life-threatening condition, as cancer is. Also, even home pregnancy tests, as all home medical tests, have a margin of error in them, especially if users fail to follow instructions.

(It's certainly OT, but, for example, here are some of the reasons why a home pregnancy test may deliver incorrect results)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/69130157/why-pregnancy-tests-can-show-the-wrong-result

So it's chilling to imagine what the reaction would be for users who take a home cancer test and, unknown to them, obtain a false positive result. (Of course a false negative result would be equally serious).

Presumably, for that reason alone, home cancer tests would never make it to the market.

But who knows?
Posted 12/7/2018 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Actually this aspect has been around for a long time with PCa called blood born PCa cells. For decades we have had the ability to do a simple blood draw and examine it for the presence of PCa cells. However, just because cancer cells are blood born doesn’t mean there is a cancer situation that needs addressing or that will cause problems. It has been reported that 50% of men at age 50 have detectable blood born PCa cells.

It is good to see the progress being made, but we are still a long way off from a simple blood test that will provide definitive diagnosis with many of these cancers. Actually what we are after is that magic wand that Bones used in Star Trek that do the instant diagnosis of every thing by just waving it over the body.
Posted 12/8/2018 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
90% accurate. Who do I pity more? The 10% or the 90% who "know" they have some kind of cancer but nothing more.
Posted 12/8/2018 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
Well, I've got the "cologard" box sitting on the table, ready for use on Monday morning. IT can detect 90+ % of cancers for low risk patients. I'm OK with that--and it seems highly preferable to a colonoscopy.
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