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Today, the majority of cancers are detected on the macroscopic level, when the tumor is already composed of millions of cancer cells and the disease is starting to advance into a more mature phase. But what if we could diagnose cancer before it took hold- while it was still only affecting a few localized cells? It would be like putting a fire out while it was still just a few sparks versus after having already caught on and spread to many areas of the house. An international team of researchers, led by ICFO- Institute of Photonic Sciences in Castelldefels, announce the successful development of a "lab-on-a-chip" platform capable of detecting protein cancer markers in the blood using the very latest advances in plasmonics, nano-fabrication, microfluids and surface chemistry. The device is able to detect very low concentrations of protein cancer markers in blood, enabling diagnoses of the disease in its earliest stages. The detection of cancer in its very early stages is seen as key to the successful diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
(Score: 2) by opinionated_science on Monday May 19 2014, @05:03PM
i would challenge the assertion that most cancers can be detected via aspiration, by a dog or otherwise.
Dogs have a more developed sense of smell than humans, but the molecular detection mechanism (G-protein coupled receptors) is the same.
Being able to process the signals, is what makes dogs good at sensing. Better sensors and better processing. Oh, and we can train them. Rats, are even better...
I would however support the idea that the medical community is unbelievable slow at picking up new things, but remember it is a business and there is only so much $$ for new stuff. The elephant in the room is the almost complete dismissal of dietary issues. But I digress....
Anything that can be mass produced is good thing. This is largely the motivation behind solid-state detection, you don't need to feed the nose, and it doesn't get distracted...
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Monday May 19 2014, @09:13PM
Medicine is a area where mistakes are paid in ruined life or death. So professionals will tread carefully. Thus public institutions and commercial companies will have huge inertia and so will the authorities that green light the methods or substances.
However this also encourage coterie and artificial barriers against things that doesn't come from someone with prestige. This system inertia can probably be studied in the case of how Lorenz's oil [wikipedia.org] came about.
The other side of this is that research into making new discoveries has to come from itching someones pet interest or make big pharmaceutical see a bigger profit than anything existing. Thus we get new headache pills but not new pencillin. And new disease management methods but not cures.
Seems low hanging fruit like diet and environmental influence. Nor psychomatic interaction will be given significant resources as it lack the prestige and image. If it doesn't build a career it won't happen.