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Health

xchrom

(108,903 posts) Mon Nov 4, 2013, 08:25 AM Nov 2013

Blood test could detect serious skin cancer spread

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24770207

A simple blood test could be used to identify patients whose skin cancer has spread, according to a presentation at the National Cancer Research Institute conference.

Melanoma is particularly difficult to detect and treat once it spreads.

Dundee University researchers say that measuring levels of a gene called TFP12 in DNA in the blood could be key.

Cancer Research UK said the findings could lead to faster diagnoses and new treatments.