A team of scientists in Israel has found a way to detect early signs of leukemia using just a blood test. This discovery could replace the painful bone marrow tests that are currently used to diagnose blood cancers.
The research was led by Prof. Liran Shlush and Prof. Amos Tanay from the Weizmann Institute of Science. Their study was published in Nature Medicine and comes shortly after their labs were damaged in a missile attack. Despite the challenges, their work could lead to major progress in cancer detection.
Their focus was on a disease called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This illness affects how blood stem cells grow and can turn into a dangerous type of blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia. Right now, doctors use bone marrow samples to diagnose MDS, which can be painful and stressful for patients.
The new method uses a simple blood test and advanced genetic tools to look at rare stem cells that sometimes move from the bone marrow into the blood. These cells carry hidden signs of disease, even before symptoms appear. By studying them, scientists can predict if someone is at risk of developing MDS or leukemia.
This breakthrough is important for early detection. Catching the disease early can make treatment more effective and save lives. The researchers also found that these stem cells change as we age, and they age faster in men than in women. This may help explain why men are more likely to get blood cancer.
The team is already testing this new method in hospitals around the world. They believe the same technique could help find other blood-related diseases in the future.
Prof. Shlush, who is also a senior doctor and leads a new medical school, hopes this research will help bring science and medicine closer together. The new school will train doctors to be both skilled in treatment and research, so they can create better tools for the future.
This discovery is a big step toward making cancer detection easier and less painful for everyone.
