Moscow:Scientists at Sechenov Medical University in Russia have developed a blood test that significantly aids in the early detection of breast cancer, demonstrating high sensitivity.
According to Oman News Agency, the study involved 135 women, 55 of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer. Researchers measured the concentrations of five blood proteins osteopontin, soluble VEGFR2, neuropilin-1, suPAR, and tenascin-C. These proteins are linked to inflammation, new blood vessel formation, and tumor growth.
The test was able to detect 96.4 percent of breast cancer cases, although there were some false positives among healthy women. Osteopontin was identified as the most significant marker due to its association with inflammation and cancer cell spread. Scientists are exploring the potential of targeting this protein to develop new anti-cancer drugs.
The researchers suggest that this test might help in the future to identify women who require additional screening for breast cancer. However, they emphasize that the method has been tested on a small sample size and cannot currently replace mammography.