Early Detection Blood Test for Ovarian Cancer
By: Women’s Excellence
Ovarian cancer is tough to detect in early stages, which unfortunately results in over 150,000 deaths in women worldwide each year.
But, there is hope!
Scientists from the University of Adelaide and Griffith University in Australia have developed a blood test for ovarian cancer that utilizes a bacterial toxin which is said to “dramatically improve” early detection of the cancer.
The full research study can be found in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, which examines the interactions between the toxin and an abnormal glycan human cancer cells and blood. During their research, these scientists were able to identify cancer glycan in over 90% of women who have stage 1 ovarian cancer.
“Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect in its early stages, when there are more options for treatment and survival rates are better. Our new test is therefore a potential game changer,” says Professor James Paton, Director of the University of Adelaide’s Research Centre for Infectious Diseases.
The blood test for ovarian cancer has to undergo further tests before it is made publicly available, but this is certainly a step in the right direction to allow for earlier treatment options for women.