Irish scientists are developing a new €25 blood test for bowel cancer, which could save thousands of lives by spotting the disease at the earliest possible opportunity. The simple check will pick up antibodies in the blood, produced as the body reacts to the onset of bowel cancer.
The collaboration between researchers from the Biomedical Diagnostics Institute at Dublin City University and Randox Laboratories promises that the new test will be a significant breakthrough in the diagnosis of bowel cancer and could be available for widespread use by the end of next year.
Studies show that the identification of these very specific biomarkers will allow for a test that is more sensitive and accurate than existing screening. This means it will not only save lives, through earlier, more reliable and faster diagnosis, but because it is a simple blood test, it is hoped it will encourage more people to come forward for bowel cancer screening.
Each year almost 2500 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer, with 1000 dying from the disease; this makes it the second most common cause of cancer death in Ireland. To address this, a nationwide bowel screen initiative checks those aged 60–69, thought to be at high risk. This screening involves faecal occult blood testing (FOBT), but it has low sensitivity the nature of the sample required has resulted in worryingly low levels of patient uptake. The new blood test will do away with the need for FOBT and prevent unnecessary and costly colonoscopies for people without the disease.
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