London/Dec 17: Scientists in the United Kingdom have developed a groundbreaking blood test that could transform how lung cancer is diagnosed and monitored. The new method, based on Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, can identify a single lung cancer cell circulating in a patient’s bloodstream by analysing its unique chemical fingerprint. This represents a major advance over traditional techniques, which can be slow, expensive and often require invasive tissue biopsies.
The research team, including experts from the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Keele University and Loughborough University, says the test’s ability to detect even one cancer cell in a routine blood sample could allow doctors to monitor disease progression in real time, personalise treatments and catch cancer earlier than ever before. By using standard laboratory equipment and advanced computer analysis, the technique might soon be integrated into clinical practice, helping reduce diagnostic delays and improving survival outcomes for lung cancer patients worldwide.
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