Melanoma Blood Test Saves Lives

Source:  Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, November 2016

The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute has become the first laboratory in Australia to be NATA accredited for a breakthrough technology to perform blood tests for melanoma patients to detect and analyse cancer genes. This new approach is already saving lives.

This new blood test is called a liquid biopsy, because it can often replace the need for a much slower, and often invasive, surgical biopsy. From a blood sample, researchers can identify whether a melanoma patient will respond to a specific treatment, and also learn when a treatment stops working and new treatment options need to be explored.

Medical Director of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre and ONJCRI, Professor Jonathan Cebon said “These tests are done quickly, and without surgery so there is no pain and reduced anxiety for the patient. We can make treatment recommendations sooner and we can monitor treatment response regularly rather than waiting for the next scan, which might be months away.”