Blood test detects cancer DNA three years before the diagnosis
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered blood cancer marks three years before the diagnosis. This medical discovery may have treatment and better patient results.

In short
- Johns Hopkins team discovered cancer markers 3 years before diagnosis
- The study used blood samples from 52 participants
- Researchers want clinical guidelines for follow -up after positive tests
Researchers at the University of Johns Hopkins have found that small marks of cancer can be found in a person’s blood for three years before being officially diagnosed.
This means that doctors may be able to catch cancer a day earlier when it is easy to treat or treat it.
The study published in the discovery of cancer was led by scientists from many Johns Hopkins institutions, and was partially funded by the US National Institute of Health.
What did the study get?
When someone has cancer, their tumors leave small pieces of genetic material in the bloodstream. Researchers found that this material could appear in blood samples long before any indication of the disease.
One of the study authors, Dr. Yuksuan Wang said, “We were surprised to find signs of cancer in the blood so soon. Three years ago, finding cancer gives us the opportunity to treat it before spreading.”
The team used blood samples from a major health study called Eric, which has tracked people’s heart and health data for many years.
He saw blood from 52 people:
- 26 people who later came to know of cancer
- 26 people who remain cancer free
Of these, 8 people showed symptoms of cancer in their blood using a special laboratory test called maced (multicainer early detection). All 8 of these people came to know of cancer within four months after their blood.
In 6 of those cases, researchers went back and examined old blood samples from the same people, taking more than three years from diagnosis. In 4 of those cases, the cancer markers were already back.
What does this mean?
The study stated that a simple blood test may be able to hurry cancer a day, allowing doctors and patients to get more time to function.
“Such initial identity can improve treatment and save life,” one of senior researchers Dr. Nicholas Papadopolos said.
However, researchers said that they need to determine the appropriate clinical follow -up after positive testing for such cancer.