Specialized Cancer Testing
Detection of cancer before the presence of any signs or symptoms by means of a simple blood test is now available. This milestone signals the beginning of a new molecular approach to cancer detection – a test where one does not have to wait for billions of cancer cells to form a palpable lump or for radiology studies which are unable to detect cancer below a certain size.
Nagalase Blood Test
Disruption of Nagalase Synthesis – We normally produce a protein named Gc protein. Our immune system converts Gc protein to another protein, called GcMAF (Gc Macrophage Activating Factor). GcMAF is extremely important in fighting cancer as it enhances the ability of macrophages (a very important immune cell) to both recognize (immune surveillance) and destroy cancer cells.
Nagalase is an enzyme that is produced by cancer cells (and viruses) that inhibits Gc protein from being converted into GcMAF. This results in our immune system being unable to recognize cancer and also unable to destroy cancer cells by our macrophages.
Nagalase also degrades the extracellular matrix of the normal cells enabling cancer cells to invade and spread (metastasize).
AMAS (Anti-Malignin Antibody Test in Serum)
Malignin is a large protein that is found in most malignant cells regardless of type or location. Anti-Malignin Antibody (AMA) is the anti-body to this protein. AMA rises early in malignancy – sometimes as early as 19-months – before clinical detection. However, late in the cancer disease process, antibody failure often occurs making the AMA test less useful.
Therefore, AMAS and Nagalase tests are indicated in the following situations
- Early detection of new cancer
- Early detection of cancer recurrence following remission.
- Some centers are routinely using the tests for persons over 50-years and smokers of any age
- Persons with a genetic predisposition to cancer
- Persons with a strong family history of cancer
- Suspicion of cancer for any reason e.g. a patient with broad and vague symptoms and a diagnosis cannot be found
For example, a patient who had been successfully treated for colon cancer, on follow-up had AMAS tests every 2-months. The AMAS levels increased from normal, to borderline and then markedly elevated. The patient had another complete work-up, including colonoscopy, for colon cancer but no evidence of colon cancer was found. However, his PSA (prostate specific antigen) was found to elevated and a subsequent prostate biopsy revealed prostate cancer; which was successfully treated