Scientists say new test may pick up early signs of cancer

A test that detects molecules in cancerous cells could revolutionise cancer screening by picking up early signs of bowel, cervical and other common forms of the disease.

A team at Cambridge University led by Professor Ron Laskey have developed a simple, non-invasive test that pinpoints a group of molecules called MCMs which are found in rapidly dividing cancerous cells but not in healthy cells.

If further studies confirm the results of early trials, Professor Laskey believes the molecular markers could form the basis for screening tests for other types of cancer.

"It is affordable, non-invasive and it has the potential to revolutionise cancer screening," the Nobel Prize winner Sir Paul Nurse told the first annual conference of the medical charity Cancer Research UK.

Sir Paul, the charity's chief executive, added that Professor Laskey's work is an example of how understanding the basic biology of cell division can produce a test to detect cancer.

Professor Laskey told the meeting in Coventry that the molecular marker appears to offer a method of identifying several common cancer types. The group of molecules are involved in making new DNA in cells that are actively dividing.

The bowel cancer test detected the molecule in cells from stool samples, but Professor Laskey said they may also be picked up in cells from saliva, cervical smears, urine and needle biopsies of breast cells.