BLOOD tests could soon be used to help predict or diagnose head and neck cancers.
Researchers from Flinders University say a new blood test model is showing promising signs of being able to pick up the hard-to-detect cancers.
The team has discovered a series of biological characteristics - known as a microRNA biomarker signature - in blood serum of people with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
They believe the signature might have the potential to identify other squamous mucosal head and neck cancers.
Researcher Damian Hussey said MicroRNAs had the potential to help identify and treat head and neck cancers and to detect cancer that had spread from its site of origin.
"However, there is no widespread agreement on a panel of miRNAs with clinically meaningful utility for head and neck squamous cell cancers," Dr Hussey said.
Fellow researcher Eng Ooi said if the team's tests could be translated to clinical settings, the breakthrough could be a gamechanger for health workers and patients.
"It could facilitate surveillance, earlier diagnosis and treatment - including for identifying people with early stage, or at increased risk of developing head and neck cancer," Associate Professor Ooi said.
The team plans to expand on its research, which has been supported by grants from The Garnett Passe and Rodney Williams Memorial Foundation and The Flinders Foundation.
The 2017 Global Burden of Disease report attributed more than 380,000 deaths to head and neck cancer.
To read the full paper, click here.
