Valencian PhD student's cancer diagnosis breakthrough

Belén Pastor, who works for the nationwide cancer care and research charity AECC and is based at the Valencia Oncology Institute (IVO) whilst studying for a PhD, says the markers can be picked up via a blood test at a much earlier stage in the life of the tumour, increasing the chances of successful treatment.

She and her team have been working with 201 blood samples – 156 taken from cancer patients and 45 from healthy people – and have analysed 18 tumour markers, known as micro-RNA.

Belén and her team have uncovered various combinations of micro-RNA which not only detect the presence of a tumour in a specific organ, but also the type of cancer, at a much earlier stage and with greater and more specific detail.

The research forms part of a wider European study known as SAPHELY, which seeks to develop low-cost diagnostic tools to detect cancer through nanotechnology, and has been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Spain's AECC offers all-round practical and emotional support to people going through cancer, as well as running educational campaigns, and research into numerous strains of the disease.

It has branches all over the country, and donations can be made via its website – either one-off sums or by setting up a monthly direct debit for any amount.

The photograph of Belén Pastor was taken by her colleagues at the AECC whilst she was working on the research team at the IVO.