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A personalised blood test can be used to identify patients who are at higher risk of their lung cancer returning after treatment, according to new research published in the Annals of Oncology.
Scientists at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute carried out a study to find out if a liquid biopsy could pick up tiny fragments of DNA that are released into the blood as tumours grow.
Dr Nitzan Rosenfeld, group leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Chief Scientific Officer of Inivata and co-lead author of the study, explains: “If cancer cells remain in the body after treatment a tumour can regrow. If that happens, it is a big setback for patients and the doctors treating them.
“Liquid biopsy can be used to detect tiny amounts of residual cancer after treatment, flagging those patients who have signs that their tumour may not have been eradicated completely with treatment. We’re hoping that this technology could help doctors decide when additional rounds of treatment are needed, and could save lives.”
The test was able to reveal the state of the tumour and its location
The LUCID-DNA study enrolled 88 patients who were being treated for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and found the personalised blood tests were able to detect tumour DNA before treatment and up to nine months after treatment.
They also found the test was able to reveal the state of the tumour, its location and potentially its weaknesses.
The researchers found that patients who had tumour DNA present between two weeks and four months after treatment were much more likely to have their lung cancer come back or to die from it.
The study’s findings indicate that by using liquid biopsies to detect active lung cancer cells, doctors may be able to make better choices about treating patients and potentially improve survival rates for patients at higher risk, while reducing side effects for those who are at a lower risk.
“We need to study these liquid biopsies further to find the best ways to deploy them, but these results clearly show that they can potentially be an effective tool to help decide which patients need further treatment,” said Professor Rintoul, co-lead author of the study.
“Huge potential for both patients and doctors”
Since lung cancer is one of the biggest killers in the UK with around 35,100 dying from the disease every year, the Cancer Research Team hope this new method of detection will help to improve outcomes for patients.
Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK said: “Detecting signs of cancer before or after treatment without the need for invasive surgery has huge potential for both patients and doctors.
“I look forward to seeing more research that will develop liquid biopsy further, which will ultimately make it much easier for doctors to offer treatment that best matches the patient’s needs, increasing their chance of survival.”