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Sharon Deveson Kell was invited by Cancer52 to represent the kidney cancer community at this workshop looking at diagnostic tests for the early diagnosis of cancer. The workshop involved cancer patients, patient advocacy groups and cancer charities. Discussions were around patient views on cancer tests and the testing process in the NHS (what works well, what are the challenges, and areas for improvement). And how can the views of patients, carers and charities contribute to efforts to make clear what types of novel cancer diagnostic tests are needed.
Sharon spoke about the new screening and diagnostic tests that are on the horizon for kidney cancer and other types of cancer, such as:
- A novel diagnostic test for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which involves combining an antibody (girentuximab) that attaches to carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX) found in clear cell RCC tumours. The antibody is attached to a weakly radioactive isotope (zirconium Zr 89) to form 89Zr-DFO-girentuximab. When given to humans, 89Zr-DFO-girentuximab binds to carbonic anhydrase IX in RCC tumours and can help to differentiate between RCC, normal tissue, and other tumours by showing up red on a PET-CT scan. Results from phase 3 study of 89Zr-DFO-girentuximab for PET/CT imaging of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ZIRCON). | Journal of Clinical Oncology
- For patients with vague symptoms, combining scans of the chest and abdomen to look for cancers/metastases during diagnosis. For example, women being scanned for ovarian cancer could be checked for kidney cancer at the same time. A screening test for RCC has already been piggy-backed on the lung screening test by taking a CT scan of both the chest and abdomen and looking for tumours in both areas of the body, as well as other conditions, like abdominal aortic aneurysms Yorkshire Kidney Screening Trial – Yorkshire Cancer Research.
- Liquid biopsy test to look for circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) e.g., the Galleri trial What is the Galleri blood test? | Tests and scans | Cancer Research UK
- The HrC Test for early detection of cancer. Unlike most other liquid biopsies the technology that underpins The HrC Test is not focused on searching for fragments of tumour cells in peripheral blood i.e., CTCs, ctDNA or cfRNA. Instead, The HrC Test has made it diagnostically possible for early detection of cancer due to its focus on embryonic/cancer stem cells. This simple blood test, which is based on a combination of 8-10 genetic biomarkers, targets key hallmarks of cancer initiation. The HrC Test can detect cancer from the point of initiation i.e., prior to symptoms and tumour development, with a high level of sensitivity (>99%), across all stages of the disease i.e., from Stage 0 through to Stage IV. Quest for Pan-Cancer Diagnosis/Prognosis Ends with HrC Test Measuring Oct4A in Peripheral Blood | SpringerLink and Very Small Embryonic-Like Stem Cells Transform Into Cancer Stem Cells and Are Novel Candidates for Detecting/Monitoring Cancer by a Simple Blood Test | Stem Cells | Oxford Academic
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