Specialists from the University of Georgia managed to develop a blood test based on infrared spectroscopy, which allows you to diagnose two types of cancer: lymphoma and melanoma.
Infrared spectrum in the middle range is often used to typify biological samples at the molecular level. Using it, scientists conducted a blood serum analysis with the help of an IR spectroscope taken from experimental mice. They managed to find the differences between healthy mice and patients who had a non -Khodkhkinsky lymphoma and subcutaneous melanoma, as well as find out a specific type of cancer.
The experiment was carried out as follows: serum drops were placed in the apparatus of fury-spectroscopy, and an infrared beam was directed to them, from which a wave was reflected. This wave was investigated to detect signs in the sample of certain biomarkers. When comparing data with control samples, it turned out that the spectrum of the control group of mice was clearly different from the spectrum infected with cancer. This analysis method can also be used to diagnose people, since we have the same biomarkers and chemicals relevant for analysis. Data obtained in this way will ensure the development of detectors of a number of diseases that can be diagnosed on the basis of blood, without conducting unpleasant procedures of biopsy and colonoscopy.
Technology can play an important role, since over the past decade the incidence of subcutaneous melanoma in many regions is growing, especially in fair-skinned people who have an increase of 3-7%. Early diagnosis of the above varieties of cancer in such a quick and reliable way would significantly increase the percentage of survival of patients. According to the head of the research group, UNINLE Pereira, at present, a blood test prescribed by a doctor is not able to identify the presence of such a serious disease as cancer, but in the future, when using the developed technology, it will be possible to compare the results of previous and new tests, and when they appear in them adverse signsdirect the patient to a biopsy, colonoscopy and other procedures.
Source: Eurekalert.Org