Scientists working co-operatively from both Harvard and Western universities have created an approach to precisely anticipate whether you have the potential to develop cancer later in life. Through their combined efforts they have found that minute changes on our DNA’s “protective end caps” can serve as a warning sign of cancer. Their research specifically measured telomeres in about 800 individuals over the course of 13 years study. Telomeres are the segments of DNA that occurs at the ends of chromosomes. Of the 800 participants who took part in the study about 135 were diagnosed with some form of cancer either during or after the conclusion of the study.

Telomeres were found to be “chronologically older” in those individuals who would eventually develop cancer in contrast to the participants who didn’t. A unique discovery in the research however showed that advanced aging of the DNA end caps came to a halt a couple of years prior to the participant(s) being diagnosed with cancer. The reason for this involves the cancer essentially taking over the telomere shortening thereby by allowing the cancer to thrive in the body. Understanding this example of telomere development may mean it can be a prescient biomarker for cancer. The lead study author Dr. Lifang Hou stated,

“Because we saw a strong relationship in the pattern across a wide variety of cancers, with the right testing these procedures could be used to eventually diagnose a wide variety of cancers.”

The researchers hope with the understanding and insight they have gained through the course of their study is that something as simple as a blood test can be developed as a tool to warn patients of their risk for developing cancer. With that knowledge patients can then begin taking steps to improve their current state of health and lifestyle to either avoid developing cancer completely or at the very least diminish the disease in its earliest inception.