2023-12-09 13:46:00
The detection of brain tumors could be made easier thanks to a development from Great Britain. A prototype test is currently being created that could revolutionize the early detection of recurrent brain tumors.
The new test, being developed by scientists from Nottingham Trent University in cooperation with colleagues from the University of Sheffield, involves using a small drop of blood to detect specific tumor molecules in the blood. This test procedure is similar to a blood sugar test and is obtained with a small prick of the finger. The Medical Research Council is funding the project and the prototype of a suitable lateral flow test is currently being developed to detect aggressive, recurring brain tumors.
The potential impact of this new testing method could be vast. If early detection tests become widely used in prevention, the number of severe cases could be reduced. Additionally, the new tests are significantly cheaper and shorter than the CT and MRI scans currently used for brain tumor detection.
Recurrent brain tumors can form even after successful therapy, and early detection is made more difficult because they occur at irregular intervals. The more closely the tests are carried out, the sooner new tumors can be diagnosed. This could lead to weekly self-tests becoming a possibility if the new technology is mature and part of regular monitoring.
According to Professor Philippe Wilson from Nottingham Trent University, sufferers have so far undergone further check-ups on average every three to six months. “If you do an MRI scan six months after treatment, by that time a tumor could have already returned for a significant period of time,” says Professor Wilson. Low-threshold testing options would likely increase the number of diagnoses, but this is a rather rare type of cancer and should not be a cause for concern.
The potential for the new testing method to revolutionize the early detection of recurrent brain tumors is promising, and it is an example of the constant progress being made in the field of medical science for both early detection and therapy.]
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