A UK research team has developed a pioneering blood test that could change how lung cancer is diagnosed and tracked.
The study demonstrates that the ‘Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy’ technique can detect a single cancer cell in a blood sample.
Researchers from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), Keele University, and Loughborough University say the breakthrough could allow doctors to monitor cancer in real time using a simple blood test.
Professor Josep Sulé-Suso, Associate Specialist in Oncology at UHNM and lead author of the study, said: “We were able to detect a single lung cancer cell in a patient’s blood by combining advanced infrared scanning technology with computer analysis, focusing on the unique chemical fingerprint of cancer cells.
“This method could help patients receive earlier diagnoses, personalised treatments, and fewer invasive procedures. It may also be applied to other cancer types beyond lung cancer.”
How the Technique Works
Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that break away from a tumour and travel in the bloodstream. They provide crucial information on disease progression, treatment effectiveness, and the risk of metastases.
Current methods for detecting CTCs are often complex, costly, and time-consuming, and they can sometimes fail to identify cancer cells as these cells can change while circulating in the blood.
The new method uses an infrared beam—similar to that in a TV remote but far stronger—shone onto a blood sample. Different chemicals absorb infrared light in unique ways, and CTCs have a distinct absorption pattern, or ‘chemical fingerprint.’
Computer analysis of this data can quickly determine whether circulating tumour cells are present.
The technique is simpler and more affordable than existing methods. It uses standard glass slides already found in pathology labs, making it easier to adopt in clinical practice.
Professor Paul Roach, a biomaterials expert at Loughborough University, helped develop the method using the Department of Chemistry’s FTIR technology. He highlighted the personal and professional significance of the work.
“Contributing to research that could transform early cancer detection is a privilege and a personal motivation,” said Roach. “Cancer has affected my family and claimed friends’ lives. Expanding the tools available to fight this disease gives me a strong sense of purpose.”
Next Steps
The team plans to test the method in larger patient groups with the goal of developing a rapid, automated blood test for integration into NHS cancer care pathways.
Researchers are seeking collaborations with clinical, healthcare, and industry teams to support validation, refinement, and adoption of FTIR-based diagnostic tools. They are also interested in working with groups developing new analytical technologies, computational methods, and advanced data analysis tools to accelerate progress.
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