HomeLifestyleHealth & FitnessAn extra blood test could help detect skin cancer

An extra blood test could help detect skin cancer

Published on

A new study says an individual’s blood may detect circulating melanoma cells, allowing patients to forego invasive skin biopsies.

According to new research published in Advanced NanoBiomed Research, screening a person’s blood can identify the presence of circulating melanoma cells. Patients may be able to avoid invasive skin biopsies in order to identify whether they have skin cancer by using these tests.

The Melanoma-specific OncoBean platform, coupled with melanoma-specific antibodies, is used in the test. The test, according to researchers at the University of Michigan, can be used not just to identify melanoma, but also to determine whether all cancer cells have been properly eliminated after skin cancer surgery.

“This is the first comprehensive study of circulating tumor cells—or CTCs—to evaluate the efficacy of surgery using microfluidic systems in melanoma,” said first author, Yoon-Tae Kang, adding “including changes in the number of CTCs, CTC cluster configuration, and gene expression profiling.”

The corresponding author Sunitha Nagrath further added: “CTCs have the potential to pinpoint treatment resistance and recurrence, and can be a valuable biomarker to non-invasively monitor for disease progression.”

Image Credit: Getty

You were reading: An extra blood test could help detect skin cancer

Latest articles

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...

Science Shock: Salmon’s Food Choices Better at Reducing Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

Salmon: Rich in Health Benefits, Yet May Offer Less Nutritional Value - This is...

More like this

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...