Anne Li APril 29th, 2017
Being able to predict accurately whether a patient’s cancer would come back after treatment would help doctors stay one step ahead of the disease. Those predictions could indicate what treatment a patient should be offered, or perhaps suggest when it’s time to switch treatment earlier than is possible today. While these kinds of predictions aren’t yet possible, a new study by our scientists shows that we’re heading in this direction, at least for lung cancer. Led by Professor Charles Swanton at the Francis Crick Institute in London, the team is analysing the DNA released by tumour cells into the blood of lung cancer patients over the course of their treatment. And their latest findings reveal in incredible detail how these cancers change as they develop, all thanks to a simple sample of blood.
See original article at: http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2017/04/26/experimental-blood-test-could-offer-a-glimpse-of-the-future-for-doctors-treating-lung-cancer/