Simple blood test could detect leukemia risk

A new study has found that a blood test could detect a person’s risk of developing leukemia five years before the cancer develops.

Researchers involved in the study found that acute myeloid leukemia, an aggressive form of the disease, usually develops following genetic changes in the bloodstream.

As no such treatment currently exists, it is very difficult to prevent the progression of the disease even if spotted early.

However, this discovery could pave the way for the development of preventative medications, allowing patients’ risks to be monitored in the same way that moles and polyps can be red flag symptoms for skin or colon cancers.

Dr Grace Collard, joint author of the study, said “Acute myeloid leukemia often appears very suddenly in patients, so we were surprised to discover that it’s origins are generally detectable more than five years before the disease develops.

“This provides proof-of-principle that it may be possible to develop tests to identify people at high risk of developing AML.”

Further research is planned in order to develop the accuracy of predictive tests so that they can be used in hospitals.

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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