A blood test to detect skin cancer can save lives

Normally, melanoma, also called black skin cancer, is recognized by changes in liver spots and the subsequent skin biopsy. A team from Edith Cowan University in Australia has now developed a new diagnostic method, as reported in the Trendsderzukunft.de information page. Researchers can diagnose melanoma in the early stages with a blood test.

This would prevent many unnecessary, expensive and uncomfortable biopsies for the patient. In addition, the cost of diagnosis would decrease considerably.

Suspected Antibodies

Researchers began to analyze 1627 antibodies suspected to be melanoma related. This combination resulted in a combination of ten antibodies that indicate melanoma.

In clinical trials, the researchers then identified the disease in 79% of cases with their combination of antibodies in a blood test with skin cancer patients. It is not enough to rely on such a blood test in the future alone. However, according to doctors, the test could in the future be used as a diagnostic tool in a broader diagnosis.

Researchers at Edith Cowan University are currently working on a clinical study to further investigate the accuracy of the test. They estimate that the test will be ready for use in about three years. (kün)