New Brain Tumor Diagnosis Method Promises Faster Treatment
Researchers have discovered innovative ways to diagnose brain tumors that might significantly shorten the treatment waiting times from weeks to just hours, thus improving the chances for new treatment methods.
As reported by a brain tumor charity, around 740,000 people worldwide receive a brain tumor diagnosis annually, with roughly half being non-cancerous. Following the discovery of a tumor, a tissue sample is obtained during surgery and examined by a pathologist under a microscope. Pathologists typically can identify the tumor type, but genetic testing can enhance the diagnostic process.
Professor Matthew Roose, who co-authored the research from the University of Nottingham, highlighted a concerning delay in the UK, where it takes over eight weeks to obtain comprehensive results from surgery and genetic testing. Such delays can postpone critical treatments like chemotherapy.
In the journal Neuro-oncology, Roose and his colleagues described how they employed nanopore technology to streamline this waiting period.
This method utilizes devices with membranes filled with small pores that allow current to pass through. As DNA approaches these pores, it unwinds into a single strand. The DNA chains disrupt the current as they move through these pores.
Significantly, various DNA elements and their modifications interfere with currents in distinct ways, effectively “reading” or sequencing the DNA. The researchers then compare these sequences against previously identified brain tumor types using custom software.
Roose mentioned that this process costs approximately 400 pounds per sample, which is on par with existing genetic testing methods.
In their study, the researchers initially tested this approach on 30 samples from patients, followed by 50 samples collected during surgeries. They found that 24 (80%) of the initial samples and 45 (90%) of the surgical samples were accurately classified within 24 hours, which is comparable to traditional methods.
However, 38 (76%) of the 50 surgical samples were classified accurately in just one hour. This means that, potentially, a sample could be processed and analyzed within two hours after removal.
Roose emphasized that the aim is to have this information ready by the time the healthcare team next discusses the patient. Swift results could indicate whether more aggressive surgery is necessary while the patient is still in the operating room or if less invasive procedures would suffice.
Moreover, if a tumor type can be identified quickly, it might open doors to a new realm of treatment options—like drugs that could be directly administered during surgery to target the tumor area.
He added that rapid diagnoses would ensure patients are quickly integrated into relevant clinical trials for new therapies.
Dr. Matt Williams, a consultant oncologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, expressed that although he wasn’t involved in this particular study, he welcomed the idea of quick diagnoses, as it could significantly alleviate patient anxiety. However, he raised concerns about how these advancements could be effectively utilized in real clinical settings.
He noted that the current intra-operative treatments are still in development and do not yet exist widely. To harness these advancements, capabilities for rapid diagnoses at the operating table would need to be established, facilitating the use of appropriate treatments.
