New blood screening hope for lung cancer

[19 September 2007 - 10h35]

American researchers have identified a new blood protein, the presence of which can be used to screen for lung cancer “at all stages of development, even the very early stages”. The advantage of this discovery is obvious. Early detection of pulmonary tumours remains very difficult and this has a serious impact on prognosis.

According to the researchers, a high level of Human Aspartyl β-Hydroxylase – or HAAH – in the blood is associated with a high probability of lung cancer. “Expression of this protein has rarely been found in healthy individuals”, stated Dr Mark Selenuk at the International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development, currently taking place in Atlanta in the United States.

The idea is to look for HAAH in the blood of at-risk patients, such as smokers, for example. In the event of a positive result they would then be sent for a cardio-thoracic scan (a CT-scan) for confirmation. In other words, measuring HAAH could become a first line approach in screening for lung cancer.

And there is a great deal at stake. In the United States more than 213,000 cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year. And in France, 28,000 cases are diagnosed each year, making broncho-pulmonary cancer the country’s fourth most common cancer. Ahead of it are breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. However, with 27,000 deaths per year lung cancer remains the primary cause of cancer mortality. And those most at risk are, of course, smokers. Or rather female smokers. Too often lung cancer is only diagnosed at an advanced stage, when it is already too late for treatment…

Source : International Conference on Molecular Diagnostics in Cancer Therapeutic Development, 18 September 2007

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