Scientists have developed a test to quickly detect genetic mutations specific to two forms of leukemia, which could close a gap in access to diagnosis.
- Researchers have developed a rapid test based on CRISPR genetic scissors to diagnose two forms of leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).
- In just two hours, this test detects leukemia-specific genetic mutations with 100% accuracy, filling a critical gap in access to rapid diagnostics, particularly in low-resource regions.
- Currently, delays in diagnosis can prove fatal. This accessible technology could therefore revolutionize patient care by enabling rapid and potentially life-saving treatment anywhere in the world.
This is a crucial step towards better diagnosis of blood cancers. Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the United States have developed technology that can quickly and accurately detect specific genetic mutations responsible for two forms of leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and leukemia. chronic myelogenous cell (CML). Their work was published in the journal Blood.
Leukemia: effective treatments but diagnoses too slow
For several years, precision treatments have existed for APL and CML, but in many medical structures around the world, diagnostic tools are not accessible or too slow, which delays patient care. Indeed, the usual process involves sending blood samples to specialized laboratories, with delays that can reach several days or even a week.
For certain forms of leukemia such as APL, this delay can be fatal. “When diagnostics are not readily available, up to one in three patients die from the disease while waiting for a diagnosis”specify the scientists in a press release. The technology developed by Dana-Farber could revolutionize this situation by allowing a diagnosis in just two hours.
A simple test based on CRISPR genetic scissors
The test works in a simple way: it analyzes a blood sample for RNA sequences specific to mutations present in ALP and CML. This process, based on CRISPR genetic scissors, ensures exceptional precision, with 100% reliable results, according to studies. The researchers notably tested this technology on patients in renowned American hospitals, but also in regions with more limited resources in Africa and Asia, where the results proved to be just as precise.
The major advantage of this test lies in its ease of use: it does not require special medical training and can be applied directly to the place where care is provided. As Dr. Rahul Vedula, who participated in the study, explains, “This means that a doctor in an emergency room could, within hours, know whether a patient should receive life-saving treatment.”. Knowing that rapid intervention significantly reduces the risk of mortality, from 30% to less than 10% when treatment is administered quickly.