Blood Tests May Save Cancer Patients From Chemo

Published On: 30 Mar, 2023 5:37 PM | Updated On: 21 May, 2024 3:43 PM

Blood Tests May Save Cancer Patients From Chemo

The specific blood test has shown the potential to detect scraps of cancer cells following surgery that could spare thousands of patients from unnecessary chemotherapy every year.

A major bowel cancer trial is investigating whether this test can determine if all tumors have been removed during surgery. This UK study recruits nearly 1,600 bowel cancer patients.

The gold-standard treatment is to have intravenous chemotherapy after surgery to clear up any remaining tumor cells and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. But the chemotherapy used in bowel cancer, oxaliplatin, can lead to painful tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, called peripheral neuropathy.

Blood tests work by examining microscopic traces of cancer in the bloodstream called circulating tumor DNA. These markers indicate whether the patient is cured by the surgery or not. These tiny fragments are invisible on a scan. The trial, TRACC, uses a test created by the US company Guardant Health. The test results come back within around two weeks.

Dr. Naureen Starling, the principal investigator on trial, said, "50% of patients with stage 3 bowel cancer are treated with surgery alone, so we are over-treating a large cohort of patients. This specialized technology could spare many cancer patients from unnecessary chemotherapy and save cost, hence rendering a win-win situation."

user
IJCP Editorial Team

Comprising seasoned professionals and experts from the medical field, the IJCP editorial team is dedicated to delivering timely and accurate content and thriving to provide attention-grabbing information for the readers. What sets them apart are their diverse expertise, spanning academia, research, and clinical practice, and their dedication to upholding the highest standards of quality and integrity. With a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence, the IJCP editorial team strives to provide valuable perspectives, the latest trends, and in-depth analyses across various medical domains, all in a way that keeps you interested and engaged.

 More FAQs by IJCP Editorial Team
Logo

Medtalks is India's fastest growing Healthcare Learning and Patient Education Platform designed and developed to help doctors and other medical professionals to cater educational and training needs and to discover, discuss and learn the latest and best practices across 100+ medical specialties. Also find India Healthcare Latest Health News & Updates on the India Healthcare at Medtalks