Simple blood test could detect skin cancer spread

In a recent press release, Cancer Research UK (London, UK), reported a blood test that can be used to identify patients whose skin cancer has spread.

A group of researchers from The University of Dundee (Dundee, Scotland), presented research on a new blood test that identifies skin cancer spread at the National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Conference in Liverpool (Liverpool, UK).

The study aimed to identify the gene TFP12 by analyzing DNA shed from tumor cells, which circulates in the blood stream. In patients with melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, TFP12 is often ‘turned off’ due to lack of DNA methylation and therefore, switches off its protective effect on skin cells causing unregulated cell growth. The study also demonstrated that levels of DNA methylation of the gene correlated with skin cancer spread. Therefore, the results from this study imply that measuring levels of circulating methylated TFP12 in DNA in the bloodstream could be predictive of skin cancer spread.

One of the researchers, Tim Crook, a consultant medical oncologist from The University of Dundee, explained the impact of the study, “By using a blood test, we have the basis of a simple and accurate way of discovering how advanced the disease is, as well as an early warning sign of whether it has started to spread. This would give doctors and patients important information much sooner than is possible at the moment.” Crook continued, “There’s increasing evidence that the latest treatments are more effective in these early stages and, if we can identify patients whose cancer has only just started to spread, this would significantly improve the chances of beating the disease.

Source: Blood test reveals skin cancer spread.