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Wednesday, December 4, 2024
NIH research finds abnormalities in colorectal cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer.
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The National Institutes of Health found previously undetected cancers in 48.6% of women with abnormal prenatal DNA tests.The cfDNA testA test to detect chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Cancers include colorectal and breast cancers, as well as lung, pancreatic and lymphomas. This test uses fragments of placental DNA in the mother's blood to detect an extra chromosome or determine the sex of a baby. This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
cfDNA test detects fetal and maternal DNA as well as abnormal DNA from a previously undetected tumor in an asymptomatic woman. Ongoing NIH IDENTIFY study The goal of this study is to better understand abnormal cfDNA results that may indicate cancer. Researchers screened 107 IDENTIFY members for cancer using MRI, standard diagnostic tests, and cfDNA. A total of 52 people were diagnosed with cancer. The authors concluded that for this group of participants, whole-body MRI is the best method for detecting cancer. Standard diagnostic methods, including taking a patient history, assessing symptoms, and performing a physical exam, are not very effective at identifying cancer. The researchers attributed other abnormal cfDNA tests to fibroids, placental chromosomes different from those of the fetus, and clonal hematopoiesis (a precancerous condition that can lead to blood tumors). The researchers noted that further studies are needed to confirm the cfDNA patterns reported by the investigators, which could indicate cancer in young pregnant women without any obvious symptoms.
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute conducted the study.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development What are you waiting for?
NICHD Director Diana W. Bianchi MD is available for comment.
The article below provides more information about the item.
Turriff AE
The et all Maternal cancer detection by prenatal cfDNA. New England Journal of Medicine DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2401029 (2024) What is the best way to contact us?
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development NICHD is a leader in research and education to better understand the human condition, improve reproductive health, and enhance the lives of children and adolescents, as well as to maximize their capabilities. Visit the website for more information.https://www.nichd.nih.gov .The National Institutes of Health:
The NIH is the medical research agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It includes 27 institutes and centers. The NIH, the nation's medical research agency, is the primary federal agency that conducts and supports basic, translational, clinical, and other types of medical research. It also studies the causes, treatments, and cures of common and rare diseases. Visit the NIH for more information about its programs and services. www.nih.gov .NIH…Transforming Discovery into Healthcare
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