A simple blood test holds out the possibility of detecting breast cancer up to five years before any clinical signs of the disease, according to research. Researchers are developing the test which they say identifies the body's immune response to substances produced by tumour cells. Cancer cells produce proteins called antigens that trigger the body to make antibodies against them - autoantibodies. Researchers at the University of Nottingham in the UK have found these tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) are good indicators of cancer.
They have developed panels of TAAs that are associated with breast cancer to detect whether there are auto-antibodies against them in blood samples taken from patients. Auto-antibodies against a number of TAAs can be detected up to five years before clinical signs of the tumour. In a pilot study, the scientists - part of the Centre of Excellence for…
