Scientists Attempt to "Intercept Cancer" Before Its Formation.. Know the Details

SadaNews - Dealing with cancer has always followed a clear path, starting with the appearance of symptoms, then diagnosis, and then treatment. But today, scientists are studying a radically different approach aimed at intercepting cancer before it forms at all, possibly decades before it appears.

This approach is known as "Cancer Interception," and it focuses on targeting early biological changes that precede tumor formation. Recent research confirms that cancer does not emerge suddenly, but rather develops through a slow and gradual process, interspersed with warning signals that can be detected.

As we age, small clusters of mutated cells known as "clones" accumulate within our bodies. These cells may appear normal, but they carry mutations that give them an advantage in growth or resistance to the immune system.

Extensive studies, especially in blood, have shown that tracking these mutations can help predict the risk of developing cancers such as leukemia. Furthermore, genetic factors, inflammation, and the environment play a role in amplifying these clones over time, according to a report from the scientific site "ScienceAlert."

In a study that spanned 16 years and included about 7,000 women, researchers found that some mutations accelerate cell proliferation, while others make cells more sensitive to inflammation. When inflammation occurs, these clones expand even further, increasing the risk of cancerous transformation.

One of the key tools of this new approach is what is known as multi-cancer early detection tests (MCEDs). These tests look for "tiny fragments" of DNA called "circulating tumor DNA" (ctDNA) that are released by cancerous or precancerous cells into the blood.

The advantage is that these fragments can appear in the blood years before a tumor is detected through imaging or the emergence of symptoms. Initial results are encouraging, especially in colorectal cancer, where survival rates significantly increase when diagnosed at early stages.

However, these tests are not perfect; they may fail to detect some cases or provide false alarms that require additional testing, potentially causing unnecessary anxiety.
The concept is similar to what cardiologists do today, evaluating the risk of a heart attack based on age, blood pressure, cholesterol, and family history, and then intervening early with medications like statins.

Cancer researchers hope to build a similar model that combines genetic mutations, environmental factors, and blood test results to estimate risk and take preventive measures before the disease appears.

Ethical and Scientific Challenges

Despite the great promise, this approach raises complex questions. Not every early change will turn into cancer; some precancerous lesions may disappear or remain stable. There is a risk of overdiagnosis, which could subject healthy individuals to psychological stress or unnecessary interventions. Also, the cost of these tests may deepen health disparities if they are not widely accessible.

However, what research confirms is that cancer is a long process that begins years before tumor formation; the challenge now is how to monitor this process early and intervene in a safe, equitable, and effective way.

If this shift is successful, we may move from treating cancer after it appears to preventing it before it begins.. But the path requires a delicate balance between medical benefit and ethical caution, so that early detection does not become a new burden rather than a life-saving tool.