Test ‘could detect cancer in 15 minutes’

A TEST that could help doctors detect breast cancer within 15 minutes of taking a blood sample could be just two years away thanks to the work of Irish scientists.

The research at Dublin City University (DCU) is still only at testing stage, but they have found a way of detecting a blood protein that is prominent in breast cancer patients at the early stages.

It was discovered about four years ago when research was being carried out on brain enzymes but they had to develop a test to distinguish it from the brain protein they were actually working on. At the same time, however, researchers internationally published findings that high levels of this protein were found in breast tissue taken from biopsies in breast cancer patients.

“We realised we already had a simple test for this protein, which we did not know much about until then,” said Brendan O’Connor, a neuroscientist at DCU who made the discovery.

Over the past year, tests have been done on blood samples from about 100 patients at the Breast Check Ireland clinic in Dublin’s Mater Hospital. In about 90% of the cases, the team has found significant levels of the protein, and many of those in whose blood it was not noticeably high were at the very early stages.

“With all the recent controversies about breast cancer testing, we are hoping to get more samples which would help us develop our testing,” said Mr O’Connor.

The test system has already been patented in the US and talks with testing manufacturers are likely to heat up as further developments take place over the next year. While the test system is certainly a viable indicator for screening, it might eventually replace invasive surgical biopsies to diagnose breast cancer, depending on further research.

“It could be done in a handheld testing device, which could be bought for about €2,000 by a doctor’s surgery. The results could be available within a quarter of an hour and there’s no reason it should cost patients anything more than €50,” said Mr O’Connor.

The SeraPro test was developed by Sera Scientific, a spin-off company of DCU Invent. It is hoped to expand the research by seeking volunteers from those attending Breast Check Ireland clinics around the country over the coming year.

The findings were presented to EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik at DCU yesterday, who was invited by former EU health commissioner David Byrne, chancellor of the university. “Not only is there clearly world-class research going on at DCU, but they also consider the commercialisation of that research, an area where Europe has traditionally been weak. This applied research has huge potential to save women’s lives through the early detection, and therefore treatment, of breast cancer,” said Mr Potocnik.