Researchers, from the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, have found unique molecular fingerprints for 11 types of children's tumours, which could be used to develop blood tests to diagnose the cancers.
This may eventually lead to a quicker, more accurate way to diagnose tumours, and could also reduce the need for children to undergo surgery to get a diagnosis one day.
The researchers uncovered the fingerprints left by the tumours by analysing blood samples from children when they were diagnosed with cancer.
In particular they found a very specific fingerprint which identifies different types of neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer which develops from a type of nerve cell.
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Lead researchers Dr Matthew Murray and Professor Nicholas Coleman, both from the University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's Hospital said the research suggested that different types of tumour could be identified using a blood test which recognises the unique fingerprints produced by tumours.
"We hope that this early research could eventually lead to the development of non-invasive tests which are faster, more accurate and gentler, transforming the way we make a cancer diagnosis in the future," said Murray.
"However, before such a test can be incorporated into clinical practice, it will now be important for these findings to be validated in other, larger independent studies," Murray said.