The tumor doesn’t wait — and now, neither does the diagnosis.
In a breakthrough that could drastically reduce waiting time for brain tumor patients, scientists have developed a new testing method that can identify types of tumor within hours — and in some cases, even before a patient leaves the operating theatre.
At present, patients often wait up to eight weeks after surgery for full genetic test results, which are crucial to confirming a diagnosis and deciding on further course of treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
But the new method, developed by researchers at the University of Nottingham, can slash that timeline from weeks to as little as two hours.
“Almost all of the samples will go for further testing anyway. But for some of them it will be absolutely crucial, because you won’t know what you’re looking at,” said Prof Matthew Loose, a co-author of the research from the University of Nottingham.
Reading tumor DNA quickly
The new method uses a technology called nanopore sequencing, which can quickly read the DNA of a tumor. It works by passing strands of DNA through a tiny device filled with microscopic holes, or pores. As the tumor’s genetic material is fed through the pores, the DNA strands are separated and pulled through one at a time.
These changes help identify the order of the DNA’s building blocks. Once the DNA is read, special software developed by the researchers compares it to a library of known brain tumor types. This helps doctors quickly figure out what kind of tumor a patient has, often within just a few hours.
Each test costs about £400, similar to what current genetic testing methods already cost.
“Our method can eliminate the need for four to five separate tests, reducing costs as a consequence as we are getting more information from the single test we do. Most importantly, it delivers results to the patients when they need them,” Loose said.
The researchers first tested the method on 30 previously collected tumor samples, then moved on to 50 fresh samples taken during surgery.
After 24 hours, the system successfully and accurately classified 80 percent of the older samples and 90 percent of the fresh ones — results comparable to traditional genetic testing.
But what stood out during the trials was the speed. Of the 50 fresh samples, 76 percent were confidently identified within just one hour. That means in many cases, surgeons could have genetic results in hand as little as two hours after removing the tumor.
Opens door to new treatment options
Loose said the primary goal is to have the diagnostic information ready when the patient’s case is reviewed by their medical team, usually within the same week.
However, the speed of these results could also help surgeons decide during the operation whether to take a more aggressive approach or if surgery might offer little benefit.
“There’s even greater potential,” Loose added. “If we can identify the exact tumour type quickly enough, and if suitable drugs exist that can be applied directly to the tumour during surgery, it could open the door to entirely new treatment options.”
Rapid diagnoses could also help patients join relevant clinical trials much sooner, potentially speeding up access to innovative therapies.
The study has been published in the journal Neuro-Oncology.
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