Researchers are studying how colorectal cancer begins before tumors develop. Using Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that can raise colorectal cancer risk to as high as 80%, they explored how the immune system responds to early cancer-related changes.
In a study published in the journal Nature Communications, scientists analyzed blood samples from 277 participants and examined their T-cell receptors, which help the immune system recognize abnormal cells. They found that people with Lynch syndrome had unique T-cell patterns that could be identified through a simple blood test.
The researchers also compared immune cells found in blood with those present in tissue samples. Up to 41% of the most common T-cell receptors found in tumors and 28% found in precancerous polyps were already detectable in the bloodstream. This suggests the immune system recognizes abnormal growths long before cancer develops.
The findings provide early evidence that blood-based immune biomarkers could one day help doctors monitor cancer risk, detect early tumor growth, and evaluate the effectiveness of preventive cancer vaccines.
Read more updates at www.onconov.com