In a promising scientific step aimed at reducing the waiting period for brain tumor patients, researchers from the University of Nottingham have developed an innovative testing method that allows for identifying the type of tumor within a few hours, and in some cases, before the patient leaves the operating room.
Currently, patients typically need to wait up to eight weeks to get the results of the full genetic test, which are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment course, whether chemical or radiological. However, the new technique reduces this duration to just two hours, which significantly speeds up the diagnosis and treatment process, according to the "Interesting Engineering" website.
The method relies on nanopore sequencing technology, which reads the DNA of the tumor quickly and with high accuracy, by passing DNA strands through a small device containing microscopic pores, which separates and reads the DNA one unit at a time.
Afterward, the results are compared to a database containing known types of brain tumors, which helps doctors quickly identify the type of tumor, often within hours.
The cost of the test is about 400 British pounds, roughly equivalent to the cost of traditional genetic testing, with the advantage of replacing four to five separate tests with this single examination, reducing costs and increasing diagnostic efficiency.
Professor Matthew Loose, one of the research leaders, noted that 76% of the samples were confidently identified within just one hour, enabling surgeons to obtain genetic results within two hours after surgery, thereby allowing them to make accurate treatment decisions during the surgery itself.
Loose added, "Our goal is for the diagnostic information to be ready when discussing the patient’s case with the medical team within a few days. However, the high speed of results delivery could allow surgeons to modify plans during the surgery and opens new possibilities for targeted local treatments, as well as assisting patients in joining clinical trials early that may accelerate the development of innovative treatments."
This technology represents an advanced step in the field of brain tumor treatment and promises a better future for patients by providing faster diagnosis and more effective treatment.
