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Scientists at Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital have discovered specific proteins in the blood that can help doctors distinguish between gallbladder cancer and gallbladder inflammation.
This breakthrough could reduce unnecessary surgeries and improve treatment for patients suspected of having gallbladder cancer.
The findings were recently published in the journal JHEP Reports.
Gallbladder cancer and gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) share many symptoms, making them difficult to tell apart using current medical tests.
Because of this uncertainty, many patients undergo major surgeries only to find out later that they did not have cancer.
The new study offers hope for a more accurate and non-invasive method of diagnosis.
Researchers analyzed blood samples from 82 patients at Karolinska University Hospital who were suspected of having gallbladder cancer.
Using advanced techniques such as machine learning and proteomics (the large-scale study of proteins), they examined 7,500 different proteins in the blood.
They found 651 proteins that showed differences between cancer patients and those with inflammation. Out of these, eight proteins stood out as the most accurate in distinguishing between the two conditions.
According to Assistant Professor Ghada Nouairia, the lead author of the study, these proteins could be the foundation for a simple blood test to help doctors make better decisions before deciding on surgery. A non-invasive test like this could spare many patients from unnecessary procedures and improve their overall quality of life.
Next Steps for Research
While these findings are promising, the next step is to validate them in larger studies. Researchers hope to develop a clinical test that can be used regularly in hospitals. If successful, this would be a major step forward in precision medicine, allowing doctors to provide more personalized and accurate care for patients with suspected gallbladder cancer.
The researchers are optimistic that their work will lead to better diagnostic tools and ultimately improve the treatment and care of patients.
The research findings can be found in JHEP Reports.
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