A Liquid Biopsy Will Detect Brain Tumors
First of all, each year more than a million brain tumors are diagnosed worldwide. These cases represent up to 2% of recorded cancer deaths, in other words, represent around 100,000 deaths.
As far as we know, the average survival of a person with a brain tumor in countries like the United States is between 3 and 27 months after the onset of metastasis or the spread of cancer cells to other areas.
Furthermore, this type of tumor is 10 times more likely to spread to other vital organs. This causes patients to have an inadequate or insufficient response to treatment.
This makes us understand the magnitude of the problem we are facing and the importance of the discovery that heads the title of this article for an early diagnosis: the detection of brain tumors with a simple lumbar puncture.
Liquid biopsy favors the diagnosis of brain tumors
A team of researchers from the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology, in Barcelona, Spain, has developed a liquid biopsy that allows the detection of brain tumors from the cerebrospinal fluid (a substance that irrigates and feeds our central nervous system).
It was the scientific journal Nature Communications that echoed this pioneering discovery that absolutely revolutionizes the detection and diagnosis of this type of cancer.
Thus, instead of invasive gray matter biopsy, a lumbar puncture would be enough to determine the possible stage of the tumors.
The hypothesis that remained in the study
While this liquid biopsy method is still highly regarded in metastatic colon, breast, and lung tumors, it has so far not been successful in brain tumors.
The main reason is that tumor DNA levels present in these patients are very low in plasma.
However, this team stated that because the central nervous system has its own closed circulating fluid that bathes the spinal cord and brain, this cerebrospinal fluid may be an important indicator of tumor cells , for the simple reason that it is in direct contact with them. .
Current study techniques are very risky, as they require the skull to be drilled and damage an “undetermined” brain area.
Therefore, this discovery is a major scientific advance, both in detecting and treating brain tumors.
Warning signs that should make us see a doctor
There are certain signs to pay attention to, as they are indicators of a problem in our brain.
So, first of all, you need to know what the symptoms of brain tumors can be:
- General: caused by tumor pressure on the brain or spinal cord;
- Specific: caused by the interruption of the normal functioning of the brain or spinal cord.
It is rare that brain tumors are diagnosed before symptoms begin, so we should consult a physician upon the confluence or occurrence of any of the following signs or symptoms:
general symptoms
- Headache usually continuous, and getting worse in the first hour of the morning and when the person is lying down;
- Nonspecific mood disorder, marked by emotional instability, emotional indifference, slow thinking, and difficulty dealing with known problems;
- Signs of intracranial hypertension (uncomfortable pain, blurred vision or disturbance of consciousness, for example).
Symptoms that are specific and dependent on the location of the tumor
- Partial motor seizures;
- Paresias (transient or incomplete paralysis);
- Aphasias (difficulty using language);
- Apraxia (problems executing certain sequences of movements);
- Agnosias (the person can perceive objects, but does not associate them with the role they usually play);
- Campimetric changes (visual field).
Note : this does not mean that these symptoms are synonymous with brain tumors, but they are signs that you should see your doctor as soon as possible .
This type of tumor is usually treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Let’s not be carefree, then at the slightest sign we should go to the doctor and let him know what we feel.
Our life is at stake and so is the tranquility of those around us. Thanks to early detection, it is possible to start proper treatment and take care of our health.
