Description

Validation 

Over 1.3 million people worldwide are diagnosed with lung cancer each year and over a million die. Routine testing of symptomatic patients at presentation includes cytology of the sputum and chest X-ray, with suspicious cases progressing to spiral CT scans, bronchoscopy and finally histological analysis of tumour sections. Analysis of sputum cytology using conventional morphological criteria needs to be performed by a highly skilled cytopathologist, making this a time consuming and costly diagnostic approach. Moreover, despite the sensitivity of imaging modalities such as X-ray and CT scans, the specificity of these tests is poor with an estimated 98% of suspicious areas seen on CT scans turning out to be benign. This can result in patients undergoing further unnecessary, costly and potentially harmful invasive procedures in order to confirm the absence of lung cancer.

The sputum MCM immunocytochemistry test offers a rapid high-throughput, and cost effective approach for detection of lung cancer. MCM staining of sputum in combination with chest X-ray could be employed for lung cancer diagnosis, with second line more invasive tests utilised only for MCM positive patients. The combined test could also support a screening programme for early detection of lung cancer in nonsymptomatic high risk individuals, leading to a reduction in the number of lung cancer patients diagnosed at a late stage.

Download the PDF of MCM Proteins - Diagnostic markers for lung cancer

For more information please contact

Dr Stephen Myatt

+44 (0) 20 3469 6300 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)