Key points from article :
Scientists achieved a breakthrough in early cancer diagnosis.
The test, known as HrC, has been co-developed by Epigeneres and Tzar Labs.
“We can early-detect all types of cancer even before tumour formation from a simple blood test," - Ashish Tripathi, CEO of Tzar Labs.
Working on regulatory approvals and also setting up a network of labs.
In the peripheral blood of patients with cancer, a large number of very small embryonic like stem cells were observed.
Expression of a transcription factor within the cell, known as Oct4a, varied corresponding to the stages of cancer.
Developed a scale based on the observations in 104 cancer patients and tested in 1,000 people.
Identified the cancer patients as well as the stage of cancer with 99% accuracy.
The scale is also able to flag those at pre-cancer stages or at high risk of developing cancer.
If larger clinical trials validate the HrC test, it would be a remarkable moment for Indian biotech.
Study published in Stem Cell Reviews and Reports.
