Blood test may spot lung cancer in early stages

updated 9:55 a.m. ET June 2, 2008

CHICAGO - A simple blood test may be able to detect lung cancer in its early stages, which would represent a promising strategy to improve survival rates, researchers said on Sunday.

The two-year survival rate is only about 15 percent mainly because the disease, which kills 1.3 people globally a year, is often diagnosed in advanced stages.

Preliminary findings of a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, suggest that a specific genetic profile for lung cancer is present in the blood and can be detected with 88 percent accuracy.

The blood-based lung cancer genetic fingerprint is suitable to identify the disease and predict its occurrence within two years, the study said.

Dr. Thomas Zander of the University Clinic Cologne, who led the research, said more studies are needed to validate the findings.

“Early detection of lung cancer is a major need,” Zander said.

MORE FROM CANCER

Cancer Section Front

Computers help docs see breast cancer on X-ray Is my cancer upsetting you? Hoda Kotb: Life is better after cancer Study links birth size and breast cancer Shorter radiation works for breast cancer No such thing as a safe tan, scientists say FTC warns of bogus cancer cures Colon X-ray detects cancer with less dread factor Hope, confusion in race for ovarian cancer tests Breast cancer vaccine fights tumor in lab tests Cancer Section Front   Add Cancer headlines to your news reader: