A clinical study found that a new test designed to detect lung cancer had an accuracy rate of nearly 93% in patients, potentially replacing the need for costly and complex genetic sequencing for diagnosis with a $60 blood test.
The study, led by Dr. Abd Agbaria, head of Oncology at the Bnai Zion Medical Center, in collaboration with researchers at Tel Aviv University, included 103 participants and was published in npj Precision Oncology.
The test uses a dedicated chip and fluorescence analysis to examine fragments of cell-free DNA in the blood for distinct methylation patterns.
Methylation, a process in which a cluster of hydrogen and carbon atoms is added to DNA, often inhibiting gene expression, can inhibit sections vital for tumor prevention. Identifying methylation patterns enables researchers and healthcare professionals to identify cancerous cells and determine the type of cancer.
In Agbaria's study, the blood test demonstrated a sensitivity of 93.1% and a specificity of 90.3% among patients with stage 2 to stage 4 cancer. The test also distinguished between adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Agbaria emphasizes advantage of early diagnosis
"Lung cancer is a disease in which the timing of diagnosis is enormously important. The earlier we are able to detect the disease, the greater the possibilities for treatment and cure. Our goal is to develop a tool that is simple, accessible, and readily available, which can help us detect the disease at a stage when meaningful intervention is still possible," Agbaria said.
Agbaria also warned that before the test can be incorporated into regular use, broader testing will be required. A larger trial is ongoing at several medical centers in Israel and Europe.
The study is the result of a collaboration between researchers from Tel Aviv University, JaxBio Technologies, Bnai Zion Medical Center, and Sheba Medical Center.