Tag: Circulating Cancer cells.

Tumour genetic material in blood circulation : effect on cancer relapse after a complete surgical resection of kidney tumour

Cancer can come back in many high-risk kidney cancer patients even after a successful operation.

This is because tiny tumour cells can remain in body undetectable by scans.

This is why immunotherapy is given to patients after successful surgery in high risk kidney cancer patients. ( Pembrolizumab).

New technology enables detection of tumour DNA ( genetic material) in blood circulation.

In the study, which evaluated a immunotherapy drug called Pembrolizumab, the investigators assessed the stored blood samples of kidney cancer patients.

They found tumour DNA circulating in the blood stream in up to 20% of patients with high risk cancer. These patients did not do well over long term.

Patients who were able clear the tumour DNA from circulation at the 15 week period ( either spontaneously or with help of immunotherapy) did better .

This is an evolving area . The routine use of tests for detection of tumour DNA is likely to be one more common in future.

The results of this study are being presented at the Annual meeting of American Association of Clinical oncology in Chicago ( June 2026).

References

ASCO 2026 Annual meeting. ctDNA analysis in participants with renal cell carcinoma treated with adjuvant pembrolizumab or placebo in the KEYNOTE-564 trial.Toni K. Choueiri, MD, FASCODana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School. Abstract 4502

Disclaimer: Please note – This blog is NOT medical advice. This blog is NOT a expert medical opinion on various topics. This blog is purely for information research only and do check the sources where cited. But the author cannot vouch for scientific integrity of the sources cited and author is not responsible for any information in any advert on those cited pages. Please DO consult your own doctor to discuss concerns and options, which are directly relevant and specific to you. The views expressed in this blog are NOT, in any way whatsoever, intended to be a substitute for professional advice. The blog is NOT previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed, in any way, by any organisation that the author is associated with. The views expressed in this blog likely represents some of the author’s personal views held at the time of drafting this blog and MAY CHANGE overtime, particularly when new evidence comes to light.

A new blood test for cancer

Cancer cells can float in a person’s blood. But finding them, in the past, used to be like “looking for a needle in a haystack”.

But new smart technology promises to detect these cancer cells easily and much early before a person develops symptoms. Detection of cancer cells at an early stage may be helpful for some patients.

A recently published study in the journal “Annals of Oncology” reports exciting results.

A Californian company called Grail has developed a blood test which seems to have a high degree of accuracy for detection of multiple cancers.

Times newspaper reports that “The NHS will begin a pilot scheme of the test with 140,000 people this year. If that is successful it will be used for millions of patients by 2025”

A word of caution though.

Just because something could be diagnosed early does not always mean that it is a good thing.

The most important thing is whether the early diagnosis can lead to better cure rates and a better quality of life.

If a test detects a cancer early but has no meaningful effect on quantity or quality of life, then it is not a good thing.

For example. Up to 80% of men have prostate cancer which can now be detected by a simple blood test called PSA. There is a good reason why we are NOT using the simple PSA test in every 80 year old.

Most 80 year old men die WITH prostate cancer rather than DUE to prostate cancer.

So why diagnose a cancer that is not causing symptoms if it is not going to make person live longer !

REFERENCES

Times. New blood test, created by Californian company Grail, detects cancers among over-50s. Kat Lay, Health Editor. Friday June 25 2021, 12.01am, The Times.

Clinical validation of a targeted methylation-based multi-cancer early detection test using an independent validation set. E A Klein et al. Ann Oncol. 2021.

Guardian. Blood test that finds 50 types of cancer is accurate enough to be rolled out.
Diagnostic tool being piloted by NHS England shows ‘impressive results’ in spotting tumours in early stages
Blood tests’ development could help the NHS further.
Nadeem Badshah and agency
Fri 25 Jun 2021 06.00 BST

Daily Mail. NHS trials ‘holy grail’ blood test that can spot 50 kinds of cancer: Ground-breaking check that can accurately detect two thirds of deadly cancers early in healthy people could save thousands of lives a year. By Victoria Allen Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail
00:00, 25 Jun 2021 , updated 10:04, 25 Jun 2021

NHS. Should I have a PSA test?

Disclaimer: Please note- This blog is NOT medical advice. This blog is NOT a expert medical opinion on various topics. This blog is purely for information only and do check the sources where cited. Please DO consult your own doctor to discuss concerns and options relevant to you. The views expressed in this blog represent the author’s views held at the time of drafting the blog and may change overtime, particularly when new evidence comes to light. The blog is not previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any organisation that the author is associated with. The views expressed in this blog are not, in way whatsoever, intended to be a substitute for professional advice.