At Besançon University Hospital, a system to detect lung cancer by a simple blood test

A glimmer of hope. French researchers from Besançon University Hospital have developed a blood test to detect the presence of cancer cells early. This test primarily targets lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the world.

Blood sampling, a less invasive technique than CT

Thanks to the analysis of 400 patients with lung cancer, researchers at Besançon University Hospital observed similarities in the blood in patients affected by adenocarcinoma, the most common tumor. With these data, six markers detectable in the blood were identified. “There is a machine which will analyze the DNA of the tumors in the blood sample and which will look for the presence or absence of a marker,” explains Zohair Selmani, medical biologist and co-inventor of the blood test.

This diagnostic aid technique has several advantages. “Today, if I talk to you about screening, the definitive test is the scanner but it is not trivial in terms of risk, we are irradiated, it requires access to a machine while we clearly sees that the simplicity of blood sampling is less invasive and easier to access,” he adds.

The test could be used in all hospitals within two to three years

The first results come three days after the sample while you have to wait up to 15 days for a biopsy. This blood test could be used routinely in all hospitals within two to three years.