Blood Test for Cancer Looks for DNA Battle Damage

Jul-31-14 A new blood test for cancer looks for the signs of the disease by identifying white blood cells that have already sustained damage from fighting the cancer cells.

The test was developed based on Professor Diana Anderson's theory that the stress caused to the white blood cells could be measured under the right circumstances. By exposing DNA to UV light and then prompting the DNA to move through an agar medium, the team was able to determine the amount of damage the DNA had sustained by observing the length of its comet-like tail. A longer tail would indicate a looser DNA structure—which is a sign of damaged DNA. And since the DNA of people battling cancer cells is more easily damaged by UV light than healthy DNA, the test has the potential to be a useful diagnostic tool.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[BRADFORD.AC.UK]

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