Accurate and early diagnoses is invaluable in the fight against cancer. Early detection guarantees the best chances of survival, since physicians can begin treatment before the cancer has had time to spread to other parts of the body. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI in Leipzig, Germany are currently developing a new technique for detecting lung cancer. The patient breathes into a machine for about 20 minutes, and the breath forms a liquid within the machinery that is evaporated and then screened for specific biomarkers. Biomarkers are naturally occuring indicators of different conditions, including cancer. An example of a biomarkerA biological indicator for a disease or process , for example, the level of a specific protein in the blood that goes up when a disease is present. is cholesterolA type of lipid, cholesterol is part of a group of molecules called steroids. Cholesterol is essential for the structure and function of our cellular membranes. Testosterone and estrogen are other steroids that are very similar to cholesterol in structure. , which is an indicator of cardiovascular health.
Among the biomarkers of interest for lung cancer detection is vascular endothelial growth factorA substance that stimulates cell division. Growth factors are usually small proteins or steroid hormones. They may be secreted by the same cells on which they act or by cells that reside in a different part of the body than the target cells. Some examples of growth factors include estrogen, a growth factor for breast cells, and VEGF, a growth factor that causes the development of blood vessels. Several different anti-cancer treatments are designed to inhibit the activity of growth factors. (VEGFVascular endothelial growth factor; a growth factor secreted by cells in the bone marrow that promotes the development of blood vessels (angiogenesis), leading to the growth of tumors.), a proteinOne of the four basic types of biomolecule. Proteins are polymers made up of strings of amino acids. Proteins serve many functions in organisms including transport of molecules, structure, cell adhesion and as signaling molecules such as hormones. Many transcription factors, including p53 and Rb are proteins. that triggers the development of new blood vessels. Cancers often produce unusually high levels of VEGF, which triggers angiogenesisThe formation of blood vessels. This process is required for a tumor to grow past a small size since the blood delivers nutrients to the cells in the tumor mass., a key step in cancer development. During angiogenesis the cancer causes blood vessels to form and provide nutrient source. Blood vessels also increase the cancer’s capacity to grow and spread. These researchers aim to refine this diagnosis technique to improve early lung cancer detection.
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