OptusNet News

OptusNet News: "Blood test could detect rare cancer
6:04 PM October 21

A rare form of cancer could soon be detected with a simple blood test, after a key discovery by Western Australian researchers.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are an extremely aggressive form of cancer and difficult to diagnose.

Scientists have identified a gene, usually found in the skin, which exists in the cancerous blood cells at extremely high levels.

That means such tumours could be detected much earlier and eventually a cure could be developed.

Professor Lawrence Abraham says while in the short-term the discovery will lead to earlier diagnosis, it is hoped a cure will follow.

'If we can understand what the gene product does and we can design drugs that moderate or stop that activity, then we may have a cure for this particular tumour,' he said.

Professor Abraham says the next step is identifying what the gene actually does.

'Because these T-cell lymphomas are so hard to treat and so hard to diagnose, our discovery impacts on both of those,' he said.

'The most immediate benefit is going to be diagnosis.'
Source: ABC"