A study recently published in the journal Cell Reports Methods suggests cancer detection in the future might be as simple as administering a saliva test.
How is this possible, scientifically?
Glycans are complex sugar molecules that are attached to proteins and fats in the human body. These molecules consist of intricate chains of different sugar units that can change in structure due to various factors, including mutations in cancer cells, inflammation, and other systemic conditions associated with tumors.
While the study primarily focused on specific cancer types, the researchers believe that the test could be applied to detect other types of cancer as well. Glycans found consistently across different cancer types could serve as universal markers.
Saliva or blood
One of the advantages of this approach is that glycans can be detected in minimally invasive samples such as blood or saliva.
This could lead to faster and less invasive cancer detection methods compared to traditional biopsies.
So, in addition to early detection, this technique could be used to monitor cancer progression and the potential re-emergence of treated tumors.
Next Steps
The research team plans to collect more cancer data, particularly from saliva samples of lung cancer patients, to expand and improve their results. They also aim to develop tests based on specific glycan markers for clinical use, making cancer detection more accessible and affordable.
Timeline
While the timeline for the widespread availability of such tests is uncertain, the researchers plan to validate these tests on clinical samples within the next four to five years.
The study’s combination of glycans and AI holds promise for revolutionizing cancer detection, offering the potential for earlier and less invasive methods of identifying various cancer types. However, further research and validation are required before such tests become widely available for patients.
