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In a promising medical breakthrough, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, have developed a simple blood test that can monitor how well cervical cancer treatments are working and potentially detect whether the cancer has returned. The innovation could reduce the burden of repeated and expensive scans while offering a more accessible way to screen for the disease.
An early-stage study reported in the Nature Group journal Scientific Reports indicates that pieces of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA, the main culprit in the majority of cervical cancer cases, were detected circulating in the blood of infected patients. As the treatment went on, the level of this viral DNA reduced, showing a definite correlation between tumor levels and response.
Existing surveillance techniques, including Pap smears, biopsies, and body scans, are not only costly and time-consuming but also invasive. A good blood test will not only alleviate these costs but can even detect recurrences before the cancer appears on scans.
“Cancer patients have to repeatedly undergo tests and scans to keep track of whether their cancer is responding to treatment and whether they remain cancer-free afterwards. Using the blood test instead can reduce this cost, with only those who have elevated biomarkers undergoing the full body scans, Sometimes the blood biomarkers can show up before tumours become visible on scans — so this may even help in detecting relapses sooner as well,” said Dr Mayank Singh, one of the authors and associate professor of medical oncology at AIIMS
Inside the study: HPV detected in the blood
The scientists employed an extremely sensitive molecular assay to measure trace levels of DNA from the HPV types 16 and 18. They tested 60 women with cervical cancer prior to receiving treatment and compared them to 10 normal women.
The average concentration of circulating HPV DNA was 9.35 ng/µL in the patients compared to 6.95 ng/µL in the healthy women. After three months of therapy, the levels in the patients had decreased to 7 ng/µL, showing a good response to therapy.
An early detection tool and more
One of the most thrilling potential uses of this test is its promise for early detection. In India, roughly 90% of cervical cancer cases are diagnosed only later, when it is more complex to treat and survival is less likely. The blood test has the potential to make early screening more available, particularly in regions that are less resource-rich.
Today, cervical cancer screening technologies are the Pap smear and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). Both are imperfect in terms of accuracy, cost, and infrastructure needs. This new blood test may provide a less complex, more scalable solution.
The road ahead: From research to reality
Though still in its early phases, the test is a promising one according to researchers. If confirmed by large studies, it might not be just a surveillance tool, but also a screening device for catching the disease before it appears as a symptom.
And the good news?
Cervical cancer is preventable to a large extent. With the Indian government weighing the idea of mass vaccination of girls between the ages of 9-14, and innovations such as this blood test, there is increasing hope that the disease burden will be eased substantially over the next few years.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal Arshad/MSM)
