A team of UK researchers has developed an innovative blood test that can detect and monitor lung cancer in real time, potentially reducing diagnostic delays and improving patient outcomes.
Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, the researchers successfully identified a single lung cancer cell in a patient’s blood.
The technique combines advanced infrared scanning with computer analysis, focusing on the unique chemical ‘fingerprint’ of cancer cells.
Professor Josep Sulé-Suso, Associate Specialist in Oncology at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) and lead author, explained that the method could allow patients to receive earlier diagnoses, more personalised treatments, and fewer invasive procedures.
He further added that the approach could eventually be applied to other types of cancer beyond lung cancer.
Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that detach from tumours and travel through the bloodstream. They provide crucial insights into disease progression and treatment response and are responsible for metastases.
Existing methods for detecting CTCs are often complex, costly, and time-consuming, and can sometimes fail to identify cancer cells as they change characteristics in circulation.
The researchers’ method shines an infrared beam onto a blood sample. Similar to a TV remote control but far more powerful, this beam interacts with chemicals in the blood. CTCs absorb the infrared light differently, creating a unique chemical fingerprint.
Computer algorithms then analyse the data to determine the presence of tumour cells.
Simpler and More Affordable Approach
The technique, published in Applied Spectroscopy, is simpler and more affordable than current approaches. It uses standard glass slides found in pathology labs, making it easier to integrate into routine clinical practice.
The research team plans to test the method in larger patient groups, aiming to develop a rapid, automated blood test that could become part of standard cancer care pathways.
If widely adopted, this innovation could transform lung cancer diagnosis and monitoring, providing clinicians with real-time insights and potentially improving survival rates for patients worldwide.
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