New Test Could Tell Smokers How Likely They Are To Develop Lung Cancer
Will You Get Cancer If You Smoke? This Test Could Tell You...
PA/ The Huffington Post UK
Most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking, and now a new test could warn smokers if they are likely to develop the disease.
Scientists have discovered that cells taken from the mouth and nose react differently to infrared light in people vulnerable to lung cancer.
"Tobacco smoke exposure seems to cause a different type of injury to cells in those that go on to develop lung cancer," said Professor Sam Janes from University College London.
"If we can use this detection system early enough maybe we can spot lung cancer at a much earlier stage or even inform whether an individual is at risk of lung cancer.
"Our study, using infrared light to examine such cells for the first time, revealed that the cells of smokers with lung cancer could be differentiated from those without lung cancer with an accuracy of 80%."
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The scientists studied samples from 76 smokers, half of whom had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Previous research had shown that the way very pure light generated by a synchrotron particle accelerator is scattered by human cells may indicate the presence of the disease.
Further work showed that infrared light can produce the same results in a laboratory setting.
Prof Janes added: "Our vision for the future is that smokers could get a test in the GP or pharmacy, swab their mouth or nose, and the sample is then sent off for analysis.
"The earlier lung cancer is detected, the better the outcome."
The research was presented at the British Thoracic Society's Winter Meeting in London.
Next the scientists plan to analyse samples from a larger population and monitor participants over time to see how many develop lung cancer.
The results could help identify which patients should be referred for CT (computed tomography) X-ray scans.
15 Undeniable Facts About Smoking
FACT 1(01 of15)
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Every cigarette you smoke reduces your expected life span by 11 minutes. (credit:Jasper White via Getty Images)
FACT 2(02 of15)
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There are roughly 10 million adults who smoke cigarettes in Great Britain. (credit:Bertrand Demee via Getty Images)
FACT 3(03 of15)
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Two-thirds of smokers start before the age 18. (credit:Flying Colours Ltd via Getty Images)
FACT 4(04 of15)
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The proportion of the population who are smokers has decreased since the 1970s. A sixth of the population smoke now, in comparison to nearly half of the adult population smoking in 1974. (credit:Dražen Lovrić via Getty Images)
FACT 5(05 of15)
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More men smoke than women.In Great Britain, 22% of adult men and 19% of adult women are smokers. (credit:ONOKY - Fabrice LEROUGE via Getty Images)
FACT 6(06 of15)
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More than half (59%) of all adults report that they have never smoked. (credit:Dimitri Otis via Getty Images)
FACT 7(07 of15)
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Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds including: carbon monoxide, arsenic, formaldehyde, cyanide, benzene, toluene and acrolein. (credit:murengstockphoto via Getty Images)
FACT 8(08 of15)
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Smoking poses a huge risk to your cardiovascular system.It also steals some of your good cholesterol, increases the risk of clotting and temporarily raises your blood pressure. (credit:Jeffrey Hamilton via Getty Images)
FACT 9(09 of15)
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Immediately after you quit smoking, your lungs and other smoke-damaged organs start to repair themselves. (credit:Oko_SwanOmurphy via Getty Images)
FACT 10(10 of15)
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Smoking is England’s biggest killer. Half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their addiction. (credit:Westend61 via Getty Images)
FACT 11(11 of15)
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100,000 smokers in the UK die every year from smoking related causes. (credit:Shui Ta Shan via Getty Images)
FACT 12(12 of15)
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In 2012-13 the Government earned £12.3 billion in revenue from tobacco tax. (credit:Jasper James via Getty Images)
FACT 13(13 of15)
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Usage of electronic cigarettes has tripled in the past two years. 2.1 million adults in Great Britain now use them. (credit:diego_cervo via Getty Images)
FACT 14(14 of15)
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A report by Dr Robert West of University College London found that e-cigarette use from popular brands is expected to be at least 20 times safer (and probably considerably more so) than smoking tobacco cigarettes. (credit:mangojuicy via Getty Images)
FACT 15(15 of15)
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7.9% of smokers have kicked the habit in the past year. (credit:AdamGregor via Getty Images)