Study Finds Blood Test Could Detect Leukaemia Risk Early

New Delhi: A new international study suggests that a simple blood test could help detect early signs of leukemia, possibly reducing the need for invasive and painful bone marrow biopsies.

The research, published in the journal Nature Medicine, was conducted by scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, along with researchers from the United States. The focus of the study was on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)—an age-associated condition where blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow do not develop normally. MDS can cause severe anemia and may progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a serious and often aggressive form of blood cancer.

Currently, diagnosing MDS typically requires a bone marrow biopsy, which involves inserting a needle into the bone to extract marrow. This procedure can cause discomfort, pain, and anxiety in patients and is often considered challenging, especially for older adults.

In the study, researchers discovered that rare stem cells, which occasionally exit the bone marrow and circulate in the bloodstream, carry genetic and biological markers that reflect early signs of MDS. By using advanced single-cell genetic sequencing, the team was able to identify these changes through a regular blood sample, offering a non-invasive alternative to detect disease.

Interestingly, the researchers also found that these circulating stem cells act as a kind of biological clock, offering clues about a person's internal aging process. These cellular changes were observed earlier in men than in women, potentially explaining why blood cancers are more frequently diagnosed in men.

Dr. Nili Furer, lead researcher on the study, noted that this method could improve how at-risk individuals are monitored over time. Co-author Dr. Fiqih Faizara Ustadi added that it may also help detect other age-related blood disorders.

The researchers are now conducting a large-scale international clinical trial across multiple medical centers to further evaluate the accuracy and long-term benefits of this new blood-testing approach.