Cancer research continues to advance thanks to blood tests known as liquid biopsies that can identify tiny fragments of DNA, RNA, or other chemicals generated by tumour cells. Years of investigation have shown, for instance, that these chemicals can detect cancer in its earliest stages.

According to reports, they can find novel targets in the blood that can suggest new therapeutic approaches. These tests have also proven to be effective for identifying cancer stage and determining how aggressive the recommended cancer treatment should be.

Evidently, they can also assist oncologists in deciding which cancer treatments will be most effective as well as which ones are unnecessary. new studies on blood testing for colorectal cancer

A recent study

The ability of a liquid biopsy test called Singatera to identify people with stage 2 to 4 colorectal cancer who are at an increased risk of recurrence and are anticipated to likely benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy is described in a Trusted Source from Japan article published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Researchers used this liquid biopsy test from Natera, a diagnostic and genetic testing business with headquarters in the United States, to evaluate whether or not trial participants required chemotherapy following surgery.

The standard course of action for treating colorectal cancer has long been to remove the tumour surgically, followed by further chemotherapy, but frequently, doctors are unable to determine if this course of action will be beneficial.

The GALAXY arm of the current CIRCULATE Japan study, one of the largest and most thorough prospective trials of minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in resectable colorectal cancer, is described in the paper.

In the trial, the Signatera MRD test was used to prospectively track 1 039 patients with stage 2 to 4 resectable colorectal cancer.

How a new blood test can aid in cancer therapy decision-making:

During a discussion with Healthline The results of this study, according to Dr. Minetta Liu, chief medical officer for oncology at Natera, "show the predictive and prognostic efficacy of circulating tumour DNA testing in early stage colorectal cancer."

By detecting minute amounts of tumour DNA in the blood, Signatera works. Liu said that GALAXY provides evidence to support its capacity to accurately identify patients who are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy after surgery and those who may safely forgo additional treatment. This capability could potentially spare thousands of people from the negative side effects of chemotherapy.

This is one of the most exciting advances in oncology over the past year, and it will soon revolutionise how oncologists treat patients with early stage disease ushering in a new era of individualised cancer therapy, according to the expert.

Liu stated that Natera intends to use numerous peer-reviewed studies scheduled for publication this year to demonstrate Signatera's clinical efficacy in a variety of additional tumour types.

Reaction of an oncologist to a study on colorectal cancer:

For certain people with colorectal cancer, this blood test provides an innovative and efficient technique to prevent additional chemotherapy, according to oncologists. Medical oncologist Dr. Michael Choi of UC San Diego Health, who was not involved in the study, told Healthline that he is pleased with the findings.

This is a proper application for this liquid biopsy, according to Choi. For some uses, it might not be ready yet.

These diagnostics specifically are not yet reliable enough to take the place of colonoscopy testing. However, I do think this is a reasonable and suitable use in this case.

According to a press release from the study's lead researcher, Dr. Takayuki Yoshino of the National Cancer Center Hospital East Kashiwa Chiba in Japan, oncologists have not had access to the right tools up until now to identify which colorectal cancer patients will likely benefit from adjuvant systemic therapy. —Online