Blood test for oral cancer

In the near future, just a blood test can detect HPV, which increases the risk of oral cancer through sexual intercourse.

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Oral cancer can be detected early - (Photo: Shutterstock)

In collaboration with the International Agency for Cancer Research, the US National Cancer Institute scientists drew an important conclusion: in at least one person with oral cancer had antibodies to the cancer. with HPV, compared with less than 1/100 healthy people.

Lead researcher Aimee R. Kreimer said the finding opens up the prospect of using blood tests to identify people at risk for oral cancer.

When exposed, these antibodies may be detected many years before the cancer begins to spread.

In the United States, due to increased prevalence of HPV type 16, it is estimated that more than 60% of current oral cancer cases are caused by HPV16.

Regular HPV16 infection has the effect of triggering changes in cells that lead to cancer.

New findings are published in the journal Clinical Oncology.