A number of cancers and pregnancy complications could in the future be detected at an early stage simply by taking a blood sample. This is evident from new research from KU Leuven. The analysis is done on the basis of the so-called cell-free DNA in a person’s blood.
In addition to the DNA that is folded in our cell nucleus, there is also the so-called cell-free DNA that circulates in our blood throughout the body. These small DNA fragments carry important information about our health, including information that doctors can use to diagnose patients early, according to new research by geneticist Joris Vermeesch (KU Leuven).
Vermeesch was one of the founders of the development and rollout of the well-known NIP test (non-invasive prenatal test), which pregnant women can have carried out to check whether the baby is at risk of Down’s or Edwards’ syndrome, among other things. . The number of chromosomes in the fetus is checked by means of a blood test on the mother and the syndromes can or cannot be detected.
The new method that the geneticist developed builds on the technique of the NIP test. “With the NIP test we actually count the number of DNA fragments,” says Professor Vermeesch. “We have now also started to analyze the structures themselves. It turns out that we can extract a lot of information from the small cell-free DNA fragments.”
The researchers looked at the damage to various tissues in our body due to certain diseases. This changes the composition of cell-free DNA in our blood. Scientists have now been able to demonstrate this change for certain pregnancy complications and breast and colon cancer.
In the meantime, studies have also been set up to use the analysis of blood samples to detect other diseases. “We expect that this will be possible, also for autoimmune diseases, for example,” says the geneticist. “The major advantage of this method is that only a blood sample is required. Patients do not have to undergo invasive sampling. This study does not mean that patients can use the new method in hospitals today, but we estimate that this will be possible within five years. must be.”
The research has been published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.
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Tags: number cancers pregnancy complications determined DNA testing
