Blood test proven to 'detect cancer earlier and reduce deaths'

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A study has revealed that blood testing individuals at high risk of lung cancer could lead to fewer deaths. Researchers from the University of St Andrews School of Medicine found that testing for biomarkers in the blood allowed for earlier detection of lung cancer, resulting in a "major reduction in deaths".

Lung cancer is typically diagnosed late when symptoms appear. That makes treatment less effective, with many patients having only a 10% chance of surviving five years post-diagnosis.

Biomarkers, like proteins in blood or urine, can indicate biological activity and may detect lung cancer before symptoms manifest, the researchers explained. Dr Frank Sullivan, professor of primary care medicine at the University, commented on the findings published on Wednesday.

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He said: "This study, along with others using imaging techniques, shows that earlier diagnosis of lung cancer is now possible. That is good news because, if caught early enough, the improved treatments now available have a much higher chance of success."

The team suggested that the biomarker test, which assesses autoantibodies in the blood, could determine who requires a follow-up CT scan. Professor Sullivan told the PA news agency: "The low-dose CT scan over-diagnoses, the blood test misses cancers, whereas if you combine the high sensitivity of one and the high specificity of the other, that might make it a viable option."

The blood test is also a relatively straightforward method that "any laboratory anywhere in the world can do fairly cheaply", he added. The extensive trial included 12,208 smokers and ex-smokers aged between 50 and 75 who were at high risk of lung cancer, reports Surrey Live.

Participants were divided into two groups: one underwent screening for abnormal autoantibodies using the EarlyCDT-Lung test every six months for two years, while the control group received standard clinical practice without autoantibody testing. Both cohorts were monitored over five years.

The study revealed that deaths from any cause and specifically from lung cancer were significantly lower among those diagnosed within two years of their first EarlyCDT-Lung test compared to the control group. Out of the lung cancer cases detected during that period, there were 34 deaths in total, with 29 attributed to lung cancer in the tested group.

In contrast, the control group saw 56 deaths, with 49 due to lung cancer. This equates to a 40% reduction in deaths from all causes, including lung cancer, for those who underwent the EarlyCDT-Lung test, according to the researchers' findings.

The researchers stated: "After five years, all-cause and lung cancer-specific mortality is significantly reduced in patients tested for autoantibodies and diagnosed with lung cancer within two years of the test. The autoantibodies detected by EarlyCDT-Lung are potentially most valuable for detecting early-stage disease in the first year or two after testing and the cancers detected in this study, in those who tested positive, were mainly early stage when patients were able to benefit from recent advances in the management of early-stage lung cancer."

They also mentioned that lung cancer treatment could be more cost-effective if the condition is caught early on. The innovative EarlyCDTLung Test can measure up to seven autoantibodies and research teams are working on other detectable biomarker tests utilizing samples such as hair and urine globally.

This extensive study saw the collaboration of NHS professionals and academics from Dundee, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Nottingham institutions, culminating in a publication in the Plos One journal.

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