In a recent study, researchers revealed that a blood test can pick up cancer, approximately four years before symptoms start showing. It raises hopes of early detection among people.

A Chinese team of researchers claim the non-invasive blood test – called PanSeer – identifies cancer in 95% of people who at the time have no symptoms but later receive a diagnosis. The findings were published in the journal Nature.

The Guardian reported that test can pick cancerous growths that are yet to cause symptoms.

Known as liquid biopsies, these tests can change the way patients can be screened for cancer in future and offer non-invasive options.

While not new, this study demonstrates its possible to detect cancer even before symptoms appear, making the findings more interesting for further research.

The test screens for regions of the DNA called methyl groups found in blood plasma. They have demonstrated their ability to pick up even the tiniest levels of the DNA. They did this by using AI - that can look for DNA emitted by tumours.

The Study Design

Blood samples were collected between 2007 and 2014. 414 samples were used from participants who remained cancer-free for 5 years after the sample was collected, 191 samples from those who were diagnosed with stomach, colorectal, liver, lung or oesophageal cancer within four years of the blood being collected.

The test picked up cancer in 88% of participants who had already been diagnosed and in 95% of participants who were not diagnosed with cancer but later went on to develop the disease.

The PanSeer test cannot pick what type of cancer people may have, but it offers researchers an important tool to develop for cancer screening.

(With inputs from The Guardian)