Researchers have developed a blood test that can detect all cancers.
Earlier, researchers at the University of Bradford used this technique to test three types of cancer and got positive results. They maintain that in the near future this test will overtake the costly and invasive procedures such as colonoscopies and biopsies.
According to the researchers, this particular method requires throwing ultraviolet light at white blood cells to destroy the DNA. Their tests showed that DNA in blood of melanoma, lung and colon cancer patients was easily damaged. And those with pre-cancerous conditions showed moderate damage.
The team, however, said that more research was required as nothing yet can be confirmed, reports BBC.
"We found that people with cancer have DNA which is more easily damaged by ultraviolet light than other people, so the test shows the sensitivity to damage of all the DNA - the genome - in a cell. These are early results completed on three different types of cancer and we accept that more research needs to be done; but these results so far are remarkable," Prof Diana Anderson from University of Bradford School of Life Sciences told BBC.
Dr Anthea Martin, Cancer Research UK's science information manager added that diagnosing cancer earlier is essential in boosting the chances of survival. However, she maintained that any new technique must be carefully tested and trials undertaken to make sure it is reliable and accurate.
A recent study about breast cancer showed that exposure to light during night time slowed down the success rate of therapy involving the drug tamoxifen. The study researchers explained that melatonin, vital for success of tamoxifen, actually shuts down due to exposure to night time light.
The current study was published in the FASEB Journal.
