Latest news with #NiliFurer
Hans India
29-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Deadly blood cancer can now be detected early with blood test: Study
A team of Israeli and American scientists have developed a groundbreaking blood test that may soon revolutionize the early detection of leukaemia and other blood-related disorders. The test, which analyzes a simple blood sample, could eliminate the need for invasive bone marrow biopsies currently used in diagnosis. Published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine, the study was led by researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The team focused their work on identifying early indicators of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), an age-related condition in which blood-forming stem cells fail to develop correctly. MDS is particularly dangerous as it can lead to severe anaemia and progress into acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a fast-growing type of blood cancer prevalent among adults. Currently, diagnosing MDS requires a painful and intrusive procedure — bone marrow sampling — which involves drilling into the pelvic bone under local anaesthesia. For many patients, especially older adults, this process is uncomfortable and distressing. The new research offers a promising alternative. The scientists discovered that rare blood-forming stem cells, which occasionally escape from the bone marrow and circulate in the bloodstream, carry crucial genetic clues about the early development of MDS. Using advanced single-cell genetic sequencing techniques, the researchers successfully decoded the information contained within these rare cells — all from a routine blood draw. One of the most remarkable findings was that these circulating stem cells not only provide early markers of disease but also appear to act as biological 'clocks' that reflect a person's chronological aging. 'These stem cells give us insights not only into early-stage disease but also into how aging progresses differently in men and women,' explained Dr. Nili Furer of the Weizmann Institute. 'We found that in males, the changes in these cells occur earlier than in females, potentially explaining the higher incidence of blood cancers among men.' The study holds significant promise for the future of cancer diagnostics. By replacing an uncomfortable and invasive procedure with a simple blood test, early detection becomes more accessible and patient-friendly. Furthermore, the researchers believe this breakthrough method could be adapted to detect other age-related blood disorders beyond MDS and AML. A large-scale international clinical trial is already underway to validate the effectiveness of the blood test across multiple medical centers worldwide. If successful, this new method could pave the way for more accurate, less invasive, and earlier diagnoses of life-threatening blood cancers, ultimately improving outcomes and quality of life for countless patients.
India.com
29-06-2025
- Health
- India.com
Deadly Blood Cancer Can Now Be Detected Early With A Simple Blood Test: Study
New Delhi: A team of Israeli and US researchers have developed a simple blood test that can detect a person's risk of developing leukaemia -- a deadly blood cancer. In the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, the researchers suggested that this test may replace the current more invasive method of bone marrow sampling used to diagnose certain blood cancers, Xinhua news agency reported. The team led by researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel focused on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) -- an age-related condition in which blood-forming stem cells do not develop properly. MDS can lead to severe anaemia and may progress to acute myeloid leukaemia, one of the most common types of blood cancer in adults. Currently, diagnosing MDS requires the bone marrow sampling procedure that involves local anaesthesia and can cause significant discomfort and pain. The team discovered that rare stem cells, which occasionally leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream, carry crucial information about early signs of MDS. Using advanced single-cell genetic sequencing, they were able to analyse these cells from a standard blood sample and detect warning signs of disease. The researchers also found that these circulating stem cells can act like a biological "clock," offering insights into a person's chronological age. In men, these cells change earlier than in women, which may help explain why blood cancers are more common in males. 'The researchers also discovered that the migrating stem cells can serve as a clock for our chronological age, and that in males, their population changes earlier than in women in a way that increases the risk of cancer. This finding may explain the higher prevalence of blood cancers among men,' said Dr. Nili Furer, from Weizmann. The researchers believe this blood test may also help identify other age-related blood disorders in the future. They noted that the findings are being tested in a large-scale clinical trial at multiple medical centres worldwide.
