A Simple Blood Test May Spot Asbestos Cancer

By Tim Clarke

November 19, 2003

Scientists at the Charles Gairdner hospital in Perth believe they have developed a blood test that can detect the fatal lung disease in its early stages.

The disease could cost the Australian economy $5 billion in the next 35 years.

About 20,000 people worldwide are killed every year by mesothelioma, which is commonly caused by exposure to asbestos.

But in a study published in The Lancet in the UK, researchers say checking levels of a key protein can, in more than 80 per cent of cases, detect the cancer at an early stage, sometimes several years before it presents.

Professor Bruce Robinson from Perth's Sir Charles Gairdner hospital says if further research proves successful, the blood test could be available in 12 months to people at risk of developing the disease.

"It is a very exciting finding and gives us great hope in fighting the disease," Prof Robinson said.

"It might also be useful for monitoring progression of the cancer, for example whether a patient is responding to drugs or not, and whether a tumour is growing back after surgical removal."

Early detection would mean doctors could treat the patient using chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery, Prof Robinson said.

More than 200 subjects from the hospital were involved in the initial research, mostly by donating blood samples.

Now, further studies with larger numbers of patients and involving several different centres, including Perth, will be undertaken to confirm the findings.

This report appears on news.com.au.