A protein molecule in the blood could indicate whether a person will develop kidney cancer, according to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research.
During the study, researchers tested the levels of a protein molecule in blood, called KIM-1, and if it could indicate whether a person was more likely to develop kidney cancer over the next five years. Researchers tested the blood samples of 190 people who developed kidney cancer and compared it to 190 samples from people who didn’t develop it, according to a report.
According to the study, data showed that the greater concentrations of KIM-1, the higher the risk of developing kidney cancer. It also showed that KIM-1 levels are linked to poor survival rates, meaning those with the highest levels are less likely to survive.
"In the future, the scientists think that testing for blood KIM-1 levels could be used alongside imaging to confirm suspicions of kidney cancer, or help rule out the disease," the report said. "Diagnosing the disease earlier therefore has the potential to boost survival, but the majority of early-stage tumors do not present symptoms and many cases are picked up incidentally during imaging for a range of other health conditions."
Danielle covers Clinical Innovation & Technology as a senior news writer for TriMed Media. Previously, she worked as a news reporter in northeast Missouri and earned a journalism degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She's also a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls.