Innovative Blood Test Combining Two Methods Boosts Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer

Recent advancements in medical research have introduced a groundbreaking blood test that significantly improves early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). The number of young individuals under 50 diagnosed with CRC is rising globally, especially in high-income nations, with factors such as Western diets, obesity, limited physical activity, and antibiotic use in early life being potential contributors.

Early diagnosis is crucial because the chances of successful treatment increase dramatically with prompt detection. To address this, researchers from Hahn-Schickard, in collaboration with the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and the German Cancer Research Center, have developed a novel blood testing method aimed at identifying cancer markers with higher precision while requiring minimal blood volume.

This new approach, detailed in the journal
31Analytical Chemistry
31, involves an innovative combination of immunoprecipitation and multiplex digital PCR—two well-established techniques. The integration allows for high diagnostic accuracy, even with a small blood sample of just 500 microliters, roughly one-fifth of a teaspoon. In a pilot study involving 32 CRC patients and 29 control subjects, the test achieved an impressive sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 90%, outperforming existing methods that require larger blood volumes.

The method holds promise for becoming part of routine screening, especially as it minimizes the practical hurdles associated with traditional tests. Developing the test further, young scientist Judith Sum aims to incorporate additional markers to enhance diagnostic precision. Furthermore, the research team emphasizes raising awareness of the rising CRC risk among younger populations and encourages proactive health monitoring.

While more extensive studies are necessary before clinical implementation, this development marks a significant step forward in non-invasive cancer diagnostics, potentially enabling earlier interventions and better patient outcomes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-coupling-methods-possibilities-early-colorectal.html