Stored DNA within platelets uncovered in study, potentially revolutionizing cancer detection methods
In a groundbreaking study led by Dr. Bethan Psaila, Professor of Haematology at the University of Oxford, researchers at the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine have discovered that platelets, traditionally known for their role in blood clotting, also act as scavengers, capturing and storing fragments of DNA in the blood [1].
The study, funded by Cancer Research UK and published in Science, demonstrates that platelets capture fragments of DNA, including fetal DNA and mutated DNA from cancer cells [6]. This discovery has the potential to significantly advance cancer diagnosis and prenatal screening methods by providing a more sensitive and comprehensive source of genetic material for analysis.
According to Dr. David Crosby, the discovery that platelets can internalize cancer DNA has the potential to improve early detection of cancers [4]. Analyzing platelet DNA via simple blood tests can detect cancer-related mutations at very early stages, including pre-cancerous lesions, which current liquid biopsy methods often miss [1][2][3][4][5].
Moreover, the study offers new possibilities to refine and improve genetic testing methods used today [7]. Platelets in pregnant women contain fetal DNA, including Y chromosome fragments when the fetus is male. This offers a novel source of fetal genetic material that could refine non-invasive prenatal tests by capturing fetal DNA more efficiently and reliably [1][2][5].
Since current liquid biopsies typically discard platelets and only analyze plasma, incorporating platelet DNA analysis could revolutionize genetic screening strategies in both oncology and prenatal care [2][4]. The study indicates that many more parts of a blood sample could be used to find cancers earlier [8].
The research team is optimistic that future applications could lead to earlier detection of cancers and other genetic disorders, improving patient outcomes. The team is grateful to all patients who donate samples for scientific research [9]. Further research is needed to assess which parts of platelet DNA provide the most useful information about cancer [10].
The study suggests that blood tests using DNA gathered by platelets could be developed for early detection and detection of cancers coming back after treatment [11]. The team found evidence of fetal DNA within the platelets of pregnant mothers, and mutated DNA in platelets from patients diagnosed with cancer and even those with pre-cancerous conditions [3].
In summary, the discovery expands the utility of platelets beyond their traditional clotting function to being reservoirs of clinically valuable DNA. This could dramatically expand research into new blood tests using DNA gathered by platelets, potentially revolutionizing the field of genetic screening [1][2][3][4][5]. The research is a team effort with the Universities of Edinburgh and Swansea [12]. The team is excited about the potential implications of this discovery for cancer diagnosis, prenatal screening, and beyond.
- The research in question demonstrates that platelets, traditionally associated with blood clotting, can also capture and store mutated DNA from cancer cells, potentially improving early detection of cancers and refining prenatal screening methods by providing a more sensitive source of genetic material for analysis, within the realm of health-and-wellness and medical-conditions.
- The discovery that platelets internalize cancer DNA could significantly advance the field of science, particularly in the areas of oncology and prenatal care, by revolutionizing genetic screening strategies through simple blood tests that detect cancer-related mutations at early stages, including pre-cancerous lesions, which current methods often overlook.
