Thousands of people are being sought to trial a blood test that could detect lung cancer at an earlier stage. The test is being offered to patients in and around Tayside and Glasgow who have a higher risk of getting the disease, such as smokers and ex-smokers. It detects levels of substances in the blood known as autoantibodies, which the body produces when cancer develops. The disease could be detected months or even years earlier than it would otherwise be diagnosed, researchers say. Up to 10,000 people will be invited to take part in the study, with half of those who sign up randomly selected to take the test. Researchers will then track what happens to everyone in the study for ten years. People with increased levels of autoantibodies will be referred for an chest x-ray and CT scan to find out whether they have cancer, and offered NHS treatment and support if they do. Sixty patients have already taken part in a pilot of the study, which could be rolled out across Scotland if successful.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 12:09:15 +0000