ANDIAMO A VEDERE COSA C'E'  DIETRO UNA NOTIZIA "BOMBA"

ecco il testo che gira nel web da alcuni giorni :

"Oncimmune, è il nuovo test che ci informa se ci ammaleremo di tumore nei prossimi 5 anni


Un gruppo di ricercatori dell’Università di Nottingham, hanno perfezionato un esame del sangue in grado di “predire” in un arco temporale tra i cinque e i sei anni, se ci si ammalerà di tumore.

Grazie a questi scienziati arriva un test anti-tumore, capace di rilevarne la presenza almeno cinque anni prima, che sarà disponibile già dal prossimo anno in Inghilterra.

Il test è semplice, permetterà di scoprire forme di malattia severe senza sottoporsi a risonanze o biopsie. Basterà un semplice prelievo di sangue che darà la possibilità di localizzare il tumore proprio nel suo stato iniziale, cioè quando le prime cellule iniziano a modificarsi ed il sistema immunitario si mobilità moltiplicando gli anticorpi.

E’ questo il meccanismo che è alla base del test, prima i medici non erano in grado di leggere il sistema immunitario, lettura ora possibile e che permetterà di prevedere il 90 per cento dei tumori solidi.

Oncimmune è il nome dell’esame, gli studiosi per realizzarlo hanno dovuto impiegare 15 anni di lavoro.

Il professor John Robertson, l’oncologo dell’ateneo di Nottingham, a capo di questo studio ha così spiegato: “Adesso possiamo capire quale proteina del sangue viene danneggiata e come il sistema immunitario risponde a tutto questo”, una scoperta rivoluzionaria in grado di permettere la comprensione della genetica dei carcinomi.

I primi kit per il cancro ai polmoni saranno disponibili il prossimo anno in Inghilterra, e per il cancro al seno si dovrà aspettare solo qualche mese in più, secondo i ricercatori questo test è più efficace di una qualsiasi risonanza magnetica. "

                      
 

Andiamo insieme  allora a vedere quello che il dr.Robertson e collaboratori  hanno pubblicato  al recente ASCO 2010 di Chicago ( il congresso mondiale dell'Oncologia)

Local-Regional Therapy

Lung Cancer - Local-Regional and Adjuvant Therapy

2010 ASCO Annual Meeting

This abstract will not be presented at the 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting but has been published in conjunction with the meeting.

e17522

J Clin Oncol 28, 2010 (suppl; abstr e17522)

A. Murray, C. Chapman, G. Parsons, L. Peek, J. Allen, J. McElveen, J. F. Robertson; Oncimmune Ltd., Nottingham, United Kingdom; Division of Breast Surgery, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Parsons Group LLC, Arlington, MA; Oncimmune LLC, De Soto, KS

Abstract:

Background: The Early CDT-Lung test is an assay, intended as a tool for risk stratification in a population at high risk for lung cancer. The test measures autoantibodies (AAb) against a panel of six tumor-associated antigens (p53, SOX2, CAGE, NY-ESO-1, GBU4-5 and Annexin 1). The aim of this study was to investigate the variability between repeated samples from the same patient. Methods: Serial serum samples were collected once a week for 4 weeks from premenopausal female smokers (n=46, mean age = 39.9 years) and once every 2 weeks for 4 weeks from post-menopausal female smokers (n=19, mean age = 54.7 years) and male smokers (n=10, mean age=58.4 years). Local ethical approval had been given for the collection. Comparisons between weeks were performed using paired t-tests. Coefficients of variation (CVs) for between-sampling-time (within-patient) reproducibility were compared with historical estimates of between-assay CVs. Results: Paired t-tests showed no significant differences between the paired samples from male smokers. No significant differences were observed between the first sample taken from premenopausal women and any of the subsequent 3 samples. The only significant difference out of 30 t-tests performed was p53 levels in samples from post-menopausal women taken 2 weeks apart (p=0.021). These findings showed that there was no directional trend over time for the patient set while graphics showed constant AAb levels over time within-patient. The comparison of CVs showed that between-sampling-time reproducibility was no higher than that for between-assay CVs for any of the three groups. This confirmed that the within-patient AAb level was not varying over the monthly cycle. Conclusions: The Early CDT-Lung test demonstrates a high degree of reproducibility in measurements of serial samples taken from the same patient. Cyclic hormonal changes do not appear to affect assay results.

 scopriamo cosi' che dietro questo annuncio c'e' un serio lavoro scientifico , prevalentemente di biologia applicata, : si e' andati  a misurare  gli autoanticorpi contro 6 antigeni associati  al tumore ; nel caso si trovi significativamente aumentati   ci annuncerebbero che sta per arrivare la diagnsoi clinica di un  tumore , in questo caso al polmone

 Ma con quale accuratezza prognostica ?

 Andiamo a leggere un altro abstract sempre da ASCO 2010:

Local-Regional Therapy

Lung Cancer - Local-Regional and Adjuvant Therapy

2010 ASCO Annual Meeting

General Poster Session, Lung Cancer - Local-Regional and Adjuvant Therapy

7032

J Clin Oncol 28:15s, 2010 (suppl; abstr 7032)

L. Peek, S. Lam, G. Healey, H. A. Fritsche, C. Chapman, A. Murray, P. Maddison, J. F. Robertson, W. Wood; Oncimmune LLC, De Soto, KS; British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Oncimmune Ltd., Nottingham, United Kingdom; University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Division of Breast Surgery, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom; University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Abstract:

Background: EarlyCDT-Lung measures autoantibodies to a panel of six cancer-associated antigens (p53, NY-ESO1, CAGE, GBU4-5, Annexin1, and SOX2) with a specificity of 90% and a sensitivity of 45% for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 34% for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report confirmatory data for clinical sensitivity and specificity determined in an independent, prospective, post-validation dataset. Methods: Four hundred and fifty three (453) patients with newly diagnosed, untreated lung cancer were matched for age, sex, and smoking history to high-risk individuals. Patient and control samples were collected from multiple locations in the USA, Canada, and Europe and measured on EarlyCDT-Lung. 258/359 (72%) of NSCLC were known early-stage disease (ie stage 1 or 2), 10/28 (36%) of SCLC were limited disease, and 66 were unknown stage. A larger series of 211 SCLC patients with matched high-risk controls obtained from a single European center was measured for autoantibodies to the same six cancer-associated antigens (Oncimmune Ltd, Nottingham, UK). Results: In the multicentre group (n=453), for early-stage disease the positivity rate was 35% (89/258) for NSCLC and 40% (4/10) for SCLC. In the single center SCLC dataset (n=211) the positivity rate for limited disease was 47% (41/87). Combining both groups (n=664 lung cancers) gave an overall positivity of 40% of lung cancers. For early-stage disease, the positivity rate was 35% (89/258) of NSCLC and 46% (45/97) for SCLC. Overall specificity for all high-risk individuals (n=1,029) was 88%. Conclusions: This large dataset further confirms that up to 40% of lung cancer, including early-stage disease, can be identified through a blood test. EarlyCDT-Lung and CT scanning have the potential for early detection of a large subset of lung-cancers.

dunque nel 40% dei casi  si puo' predirre il tumore del polmone con test del sangue

 e' una percentuale  soddisfacente ?

se pensiamo a tutto lo stress che deriverebbe dal sapere  che abbiamo una spada di Damocle sulla testa ( un tumore dei polmoni!)   ma d'altro canto il fatto che  nel 60% dei casi potremmo avere lo stesso l'insorgenza del tumore senza  che esso  posa  essere  pronosticato  prima  non sembra  garantirci  sicurezza e fiducia nel test

Ma andiamo a fare una capatina  sul sito dell'Oncimmune : www.oncimmune.com

 Professor John Robertson’s future directions of EarlyCDT

Oncimmune has an exclusive and ground-breaking blood test that aids in the early detection of cancers (much earlier than current screening methods such as mammography, CT, etc.) by recognizing tumor-associated autoantibodies. The technology provides a significant advantage in how early a cancer may be detected, which is likely to radically change the current paradigm of diagnosis and treatment for most solid cancers (e.g., lung, breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, pancreatic, etc.). Research has also shown that different types of tumors give rise to unique autoantibodies and that the pattern of autoantibodies will also provide biological information as well as aid earlier detection. In addition, the autoantibody test is performed on a blood (serum) sample, making it realistically accessible to low and middle income countries, regions where over half the cancers will be diagnosed by 2030. It is anticipated that over the next few years, this technology will significantly improve the prognosis for those with solid cancers.

Oncimmune has developed a semi-automated robotic assay platform to measure the immune system’s antibody response to cancer. These antibodies are produced in response to a patient’s own cancer and have, therefore, been called autoantibodies or immuno-biomarkers. Oncimmune has combined development of the robotic assay platform with new production methods to produce immunogenic proteins designed to replicate the cancer proteins that trigger the body’s autoantibody response. It is the combination of the robotic technology, specialized assay procedures, proprietary protein production and Oncimmune’s patent portfolio that secures the company its exclusive position in this key medical area.

Oncimmune plans to adapt this technology to the development of blood tests for a variety of solid tumor cancers. The next test to follow EarlyCDT–Lung™ to the market will be a blood test to aid in early detection of breast cancer. The EarlyCDT–Breast test is in advanced stages of development and will be launched in 2011. The company estimates about 10% of the total population screened with mammography would be classified as high-risk, and for these women an EarlyCDT–Breast test would be cost-effective. This percentage equates to about 7 million women. The demographics of this population are very favorable for on-going health monitoring, which includes early detection tests for breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Time Line

Scopriamo dunque che e' in preparazione  anche per il tumore della mammella (verosimilmente  con una percentuale di accuratezza prognostica maggiore )

Scopriamo anche che il test per il polmone  si puo' ordinare per la  " modica " cifra di 3000  euro !

a questo punto , come diceva lo scrivano Bartleby di Melville ,

possiamo concludere : I WOULD PREFER NOT TO!

PREFERIREI DI NO!

dr.Roberto Magarotto