The Johns Hopkins study detects cancer in the blood 3 years before the diagnosis

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say they have discovered an advanced method to detect cancer.

A new study, published in the journal Cancer Discovery and partially funded by the National Institutes of Health, revealed that the genetic equipment defeated by tumors can be detected in the blood circulation three years before a diagnosis of cancer.

Researchers analyzed plasma samples from a major study on the risk of atherosclerosis in communities (ARIC) to assess risk factors for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases, according to a press release.

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The blood samples were analyzed with 26 participants who were diagnosed with cancer within six months of the collection of samples, and 26 which were not diagnosed with cancer.

Of these 52 participants, eight marked positively on a multi-cancer early detection laboratory test (MCED) and were diagnosed with cancer within four months of blood collection.

Genetic materials pierced by tumors can be detected in the bloodstream three years before a diagnosis of cancer, researchers revealed. (istock)

MCED tests are an experimental type of cancer screening that seeks signs of several types of cancer at the same time, according to American Cancer Society.

These signs may include pieces of DNA, RNA or abnormal cell proteins.

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For six of these eight individuals, the researchers were able to assess additional blood samples which were taken from 3.1 to 3.5 years before the diagnosis.

In four samples, the researchers identified mutations derived from tumors (genetic alterations in cancer cells).

“Three years earlier, it is time of intervention,” noted the author of the main study (not in the photo). (istock)

The author of the main study Yuxuan Wang, MD, PH.D., deputy professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, shared with Fox News Digital that she and her colleagues researchers were “very excited” to discover that cancer could be detected several years before the emergence of symptoms.

“For cancers at any step, therapy is more effective when delivered earlier,” she said.

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“As a medical nap, I mainly see patients who have advanced cancers. Unfortunately, for the majority of these patients, the treatments aim to prolong life rather than cure their disease.”

She added: “If cancers can be detected three years earlier, they are much more likely to be healed by surgery or other therapies.”

Researchers have analyzed plasma samples to assess risk factors for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. (istock)

Wang stressed that previous cancer detection is “key” to reduce cancer deaths.

“Future efforts should be oriented towards the development of reliable tests which can carry out such very early detection and make them available to patients,” she said.

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The detection of cancer of years before a clinical diagnosis could help “provide management with a more favorable result”, said the main author Nickolas Papadopoulos, Ph.D., professor of oncology and researcher of Ludwig Center, in a statement.

“Of course, we must determine the appropriate clinical monitoring after a positive test for such cancers,” he added.