A simple blood test could help diagnose patients with the deadliest form of brain cancer, saving them from invasive, high-risk surgery. The new, world-first technology has been shown to work on glial tumors including glioblastoma (GBM), the most commonly diagnosed type of high-grade brain tumor in adults.
The clinical validation study, recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, looked at brain cancer patients treated at the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence run by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Innovation in early detection
Dr Nelofer Syed, from Imperial's Department of Brain Sciences, who leads the centre, said: "Non-invasive, cheap early detection of brain tumors is vital to improving patient care. With this technology, hard-to-reach tumors can be diagnosed with a risk-free, patient-friendly blood test. We believe this will be a world first, as there are currently no non-invasive or non-radiological tests for these tumors."
Kevin O'Neill, consultant neurosurgeon at Imperial College London NHS Foundation Trust and honorary clinical senior lecturer in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, co-leads the centre.
He added: "This helps speed up diagnosis, allowing surgeons to implement targeted treatments based on biopsy results, improving patients' chances of survival. I am very grateful to everyone who contributed to this research, especially the patients who participated in it."
Reduce biopsy risk
Brain tumors kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer, so earlier diagnosis and better treatment options are urgently needed. The TriNetra-Glio blood tester works by isolating tumor cells that have escaped from the tumor in the blood circulation. The isolated cells are stained and can be identified under a microscope.
"This test is more than just an indicator of disease, it's a truly diagnostic liquid biopsy," O'Neill said. "It detects intact circulating tumor cells in the blood, which can be analyzed with the same cellular detail as an actual tissue sample."
The test could make a huge difference for patients with suspected high-grade gliomas, including giant cell gliomas, astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, allowing them to diagnose their tumor type earlier, speed up treatment and potentially improve survival. It could also eliminate the need for surgical biopsies, which carry significant risks, especially for those with underlying health conditions.
The work, funded by Datar Cancer Genetics, has attracted the attention of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. agency responsible for promoting public health. It is now hoped that a larger study will be carried out in the UK, which if successful would mean patients with suspected high-grade tumors could benefit from the breakthrough within two years.
Overcome diagnostic delays
Brain cancer patient Steve Ackroyd, a TV editor from Palmers Green, North London, was initially misdiagnosed with epilepsy and received treatment. Three months later, in August 2022, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Steve, 47, who has a 12-year-old daughter, underwent a biopsy followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is currently undergoing immunotherapy treatment in Germany, which could cost up to £300,000, funded by a crowdfunding page set up by his wife Francesca.
She said: "In Steve's case, he had a surgical biopsy to identify the type of tumor and we also found that the diffuse nature of the tumor meant it was inoperable. We waited seven weeks for the results, only to discover that the tissue was later deemed a 'bad sample'. Unfortunately, all the delays cost us precious time when he could have been treated."
Dan Knowles, chief executive of the Brain Tumor Research Organization, said: "This ground-breaking research could lead to earlier diagnosis and better treatment for people with brain tumors. New approaches are urgently needed, especially in the treatment of gliomas, which are fatal in most cases. More people in the UK die from brain tumors under the age of 40 than from any other cancer, and we must find a way to treat this devastating disease."
Compiled source: ScitechDaily