Brain cancer blood test makes for faster, better diagnoses

A blood test is being developed to better detect brain cancer with one Australian every five hours newly diagnosed with the disease. It's hoped a simple blood test can monitor tumours more accurately and allow doctors to see whether they are stable or growing. Researchers looked at virus-sized nanoparticles known as exosomes which are released by cancer cells in large numbers. From a few drops of blood they detected a signature that distinguishes people with and without brain cancer. Although the research now needs to be reproduced in a larger study, Dr Michael Buckland says the field of liquid biopsies is exploding because of the potential benefits in enhancing diagnosis and treatment. Mandarin Producer Alan Qu speaks with the fellow researcher from RPA Wei Heng to have more.

A human brain Source: AAP