New Blood Test Can Detect Many Cancers and Organ Problems

Topic: Research News

UCLA researchers created a simple blood test that can detect several types of cancer, liver diseases, and organ problems. The test looks for DNA fragments in the bloodstream to identify potential health issues.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have developed a new blood test that can detect multiple cancers and organ problems. This simple test is relatively inexpensive and can provide a more affordable way to detect diseases earlier.

The test works by analyzing fragments of DNA that circulate naturally in the bloodstream. These DNA fragments contain molecular clues about the health of many different organs. Dr. Jasmine Zhou, the senior author of the study, explained that every day, 50 to 70 billion cells in our body die and release their DNA into the blood.

The new technique, called MethylScan, focuses on DNA methylation, which are chemical tags on DNA that help control gene activity. Different tissues have distinct methylation patterns, and those patterns can shift when cells become diseased or cancerous. Dr. Wenyuan Li, a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at UCLA, said,

Implications

UCLA researchers created a simple blood test that can detect several types of cancer, liver diseases, and organ problems. The test looks for DNA fragments in the bloodstream to identify potential health issues.