Russian Scientists Develop Method for Earlier Detection of Cancer

NOVOSIBIRSK, August 29 (RIA Novosti) – Scientists from a subsidiary of the SIGMA.Novosibirsk nanotechnology center, a project run by the state-owned RUSNANO Corporation, have developed a technology that detects cancer in very early stages and can be employed at outpatient clinics, said a Friday statement on the center’s website.

“The method of super-early cancer detection is based on DNA molecule analysis. A cancer tumor does not develop if the particular genes, the onco-suppressor genes, are active, as what they produce suppresses the creation of a tumor. Thus, if these genes are ‘turned off,’ an oncogenic process can be diagnosed,” the statement said.

Siberian biotechnology company SibEnzyme has discovered an enzyme and created a method to find an onco-suppressor gene that has been turned off. This technology is currently being tested by Russian State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR.

According to the statement the testing system will be available for use by 2017.

The new technology diagnoses cancer based on a few DNA molecules, and gives a result in 4-6 hours, requiring only standard equipment for Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, which is available in almost all clinics. The analysis can be conducted by regular medical staff.

The experts note that similar methods of cancer detection are being used abroad. However, as those methods require sophisticated equipment and highly qualified professionals, they are not widespread. The diagnosis method currently used is not able to detect cancer in very early stages. People diagnosed with stage I or II cancer have a 60-95 percent survival rate, as opposed to 10-25 percent in cases diagnosed later.

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