Researchers from the University of Oxford have developed a promising blood test, named TriOx, capable of detecting early-stage cancer across six types: bowel, oesophageal, pancreatic, renal, ovarian, and breast. This liquid biopsy analyzes DNA in the blood to identify subtle signs of cancer, offering a less invasive and faster alternative to traditional diagnostic methods. In a study evaluating 91 blood samples—61 from confirmed cancer patients and 30 from non-cancer individuals—TriOx demonstrated a sensitivity rate of 94.9%, accurately identifying 56 out of 59 cancer samples. It also achieved a specificity rate of 88.8%, correctly identifying eight out of nine non-cancer samples, thereby minimizing unnecessary procedures for healthy individuals.
Professor Anna Schuh, lead researcher and professor of molecular diagnostics at Oxford, highlighted that TriOx leverages cutting-edge science and machine learning to examine the entire cancer genome, enhancing diagnostic reliability. While still in the early stages of development, the test holds potential to improve survival rates by facilitating routine blood screenings for early cancer detection, when treatment is more effective. The Oxford research team is now working to expand the test’s applicability to more cancer types and larger patient groups. These findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications. Click for More Details
