2014年11月4日 訊 /生物谷BIOON/ --近日，在利物浦舉辦的國家癌症研究所癌症(NCRI，National Cancer Reasearch Institute)會議上，來自英國癌症研究中心的研究者表示，他們已經在癌症病人的血液中鑑別出了800多種生物標誌物，這或許可以幫助科學家們開發出單一的血液檢測技術來對多種癌症進行早期檢測。
研究者表示，這是他們首次對癌症相關的特殊血液標記物進行全方位地分析，而且以此來進行未來臨床研究的展望；研究者希望未來可以開發出利用單一血樣來檢測多種癌症的血液檢測技術，所有類型的癌症在血液中都可以產生標誌物，因此開發新型的血液檢測技術用於指示癌症的進程就顯得較為可行。
在英國，癌症患者的生存率遠低於其它西方國家，部分原因是患者診斷的較晚，而且患者多在表現出明顯症狀後才被確診為癌症；而如今開發出多種進行癌症早期診斷的技術將會幫助患者進行早期預防和治療，來及時挽救癌症患者的生命。研究者在會議上指出，多種生物標誌物的發現為開發低侵入性的新型血液篩查技術用於癌症診斷提供了新的思路和幫助。
研究者認為，他們鑑別出了全部和癌症相關的生物標記物，下一步就是進行深入分析來揭示哪些生物標記物可以更準確地幫助進行癌症的早期診斷。癌症研究專家Sara Hiom說道，這是一項具有創新性和前瞻性的研究，儘管當前只是處於初級階段，但其為我們深入理解癌症的生物標記物的產生及利用新型生物標記物開發癌症診斷技術提供了許多幫助。癌症的早期診斷就意味著臨床醫生們可以針對患者及時使用有效療法，這就可以大大改善癌症患者的生存率。研究者的目標是在下一個20年裡使得四分之三的癌症患者生存期至少超過10年。（生物谷Bioon.com）
英文原文：The UK Early Cancer Detection Consortium - Building the evidence base of blood-based biomarkers for early detection of cancer
生物谷推薦的新聞報導：
Scientists have identified more than 800 markers in the blood of cancer patients that could help lead to a single blood test for early detection of many types of cancer in future, according to research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool.
This is the first time that cancer-specific blood markers have been comprehensively reviewed and identified for further clinical development. This study, by the UK Early Cancer Detection Consortium, funded by Cancer Research UK, has analysed 19,000 scientific papers and found more than 800 biomarkers.
The aim of this research is to develop a screening test from a single blood sample for multiple cancer types. All cancers produce markers in the blood, so it could be feasible to develop a general screening test for many different forms of the disease.
In the UK, survival rates for cancer are lower than in some other western countries, part of which may be related to late diagnosis. But developing more ways to spot cancers earlier, including research into new screening technologies such as this, could help give more options for curative treatment, and save more lives in the future.
In the UK, cancer is most often detected after patients present symptoms to their doctor, with a small proportion being detected through any of the three national screening programmes for breast, bowel, and cervical cancer. This study could open the way for less invasive, new screening tests that could detect more cancers, possibly including some rare types, at an early stage when they are more likely to be treatable.
Cancer Research UK is committed to early diagnosis of cancer, importantly reducing late diagnosis and improving patients' chances of surviving long term.
Study author Professor Ian Cree, a Cancer Research UK funded scientist at the University of Warwick and University Hospital in Coventry, said: "This is a new approach to early detection and the first time such a systematic review has been done. A single blood-based screening test would be a game changer for early detection of cancer which could help make it a curable disease for many more patients. We believe that we've identified all the relevant biomarkers; the next step is working out which ones work the best for spotting cancers."
The identified biomarkers will be reviewed and categorised before they are developed further in clinical laboratory studies.
Sara Hiom, Cancer Research UK's director of early diagnosis, said: "This is an innovative and promising new approach. And although in its early stages, it shows how our increased understanding of cancers' 'markers' and new technologies are combining to offer new opportunities to detect cancer sooner. Diagnosing cancer at an early stage generally means more effective treatment and that translates into better survival. Our goal over the next 20 years is that three in four cancer patients will survive at least ten years after their diagnosis."