ECU researchers develop the first blood test in the world that detects melanoma in its infancy

July 20, 2018

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) developed the first blood test in the world to detect melanoma in its infancy, a breakthrough that will save thousands of lives, as well as millions of dollars for

In a trial involving 105 people with melanoma and 104 healthy controls, the blood test detected early-stage melanoma in 81.5% of cases

Melanoma mission [19659005] Australia has the second highest rate Pauline Zaenker, a senior PhD researcher, said that early identification of melanoma was the best way to prevent these deaths

"Patients whose melanoma has been detected in bad cancer. its early stage has a five-year survival rate between 90 and 99 percent, while it's not detected early and that it spreads in the body, the survival rate at five years falls to less than 50 percent. 19659003] "That's what makes this blood test so exciting as a potential screening tool as it can detect melanoma in its very early stages when it is still treatable."

Visual Implications

Currently, primary melanoma is detected by a visual examination by a clinician with all areas of the skin that are disturbing excised and sent for a biopsy.

Ms. Zaenker, of the Melanoma Research Group (MRG) of the ECU, said the new blood test a new tool for detecting melanoma before it spreads throughout the body .

"While clinicians do a fantastic job with available tools, relying on biopsies alone can be problematic, we know that three out of four biopsies are negative for melanoma."

"Biopsies are very invasive, with a minimum of 1cm on 1cm of excised skin from the patient. "

" They are also expensive, with previous research showing that the Australian health system spends $ 201 million on melanoma each year with $ 73 million on Negative biopsies. "

Antibodies provide early warning

The blood test detects autoantibodies produced by the body. "The body starts to produce these antibodies as soon as the melanoma develops, which is why we were able to detect cancer in its early stages with this blood test.No other type of biomarker seems to be able to detect cancer in the blood at these levels. Early stages. "Ms. Zaenker said:" We examined a total of 1627 different types of antibodies to identify a combination of 10 antibodies that best indicated the

MelanomaWA CEO, Clinton Heal, experienced first-hand hand the importance of developing new methods of detecting skin cancer – he has had 34 secondary tumors removed since he's in MelanomaWA, we see the importance of early detection and its importance for the long-term survival of people with melanoma.I am personally so excited to see this research transcend into clinical practice, having given my own samples of ang at melanoma research group after my diagnosis in 2005.

"My main mela's name was not detected early, and I believe that a simple blood test could have significantly improved my diagnosis of melanoma and its subsequent treatment. "

N Steps

Professor Mel Ziman, Director of MRG, said: Validate the results were being organized.

" We expect that it will take about three years. If successful, we hope to have a test ready for use in pathology clinics shortly thereafter. "

" The ultimate goal is that this blood test be used to provide greater diagnostic certainty before the biopsy. and for the routine screening of those at higher risk for melanoma, such as those with a large number of moles or with pale skin or a family history of the disease. "

Blood test (MelDx) submitted The development of the blood test was funded with a $ 452,000 grant from the National Board of Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) and a $ 200,000 grant. of Tour de Cure Australia will serve to advance this research. [19659003] The results of the study, "A diagnostic autoantibodies signature for primary cutaneous melanoma," have been published today. 39 (May 18, 18) in the review Oncotarget

M Success of the elanoma

The melanoma research group focuses primarily on the development of blood tests that can detect and monitor the progression of melanoma in patients

A blood test for ocular melanoma

In 2016, the MRG received a $ 200,000 grant from Cancer Council WA and 820,000 $ NHMRC to develop a blood test p to predict the effectiveness of different types of treatments for melanoma patients.