The story provides a review of early research examining an experimental blood test for the detection of melanoma. The addition of the comments from an unaffiliated expert place the research into context and provide important caveats to the study.
But early on the story makes a bold claim that the test could save thousands of lives, yet in many cases, early detection of cancer does not guarantee a longer, healthier life. That’s an important reality that should be shared with readers. The story also would have been stronger had it discussed the downsides to screening tests — notably the risk of false-positive and false-negative results — and the risk of overdiagnosis. For example, this dermatologist’s perspective would have been a refreshing take to include in this story.
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Early detection is essential for good clinical outcomes. A blood test to easily detect the disease would be a welcome addition especially in those areas with a high prevalence of the disorder. However, there are many pitfalls to consider, and news stories must be cautious not to oversell the benefits and downplay the risks.
This test, since it involves ten separate autoantibody antigens is likely to be expensive. A test to determine breast cancer recurrence risk, Oncotype DX cost approximately $3,000. It is unclear how often a blood test for melanoma would need to be repeated, so the cost will be an important consideration, and should have at least been acknowledged.
The story provides both sensitivity and specificity for the test and notes that both need to be in excess of 90% for it to be useful.
Of course, there is an assumption that the test–if proven to be validated–would reduce deaths from melanoma due to early detection. That will take a lot more research to determine. “Early detection saves lives” is not always true.
Like many other stories about screening tests, the reader is not provided with any comments on the potential harms. Even with a 90% sensitivity and specificity (a high mark for such a test), there would be many people with both false positive and false negative results. Read more about this issue in our primer: Understanding medical tests: sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value
These cancers are frequently overdiagnosed, so a diagnostic test that finds a lot of low-risk cancers could be harmful by leading to overtreatment. Ideally, we want know that the test is leading to finding early-stage, high-risk cancers that require and would benefit from treatment.
The story provides a modest amount of information on the study methods and carefully describes the results. The comments of Dr. Moffat place the research in proper context, “We need to know how accurate it is, if it can save lives, and how it could work in practice. So, although a blood test to find skin cancer earlier is certainly exciting, research in this field still has hurdles to overcome…”
However, one important point to make about this level of research — the scientists were using blood samples from confirmed melanoma patients. Will the blood test’s performance hold up when used widely and only among people with unknown cancer status?
The study was conducted in Australia, where melanoma is very prevalent. The story provides statistics without hyperbole.
We did not detect any conflicts of interest that should have been disclosed, though it would have been useful to explain how the study was funded (a grant from the Australian government). The story provides comments from Dr. Moffat, an unaffiliated expert who places the tests and the results in context.
The story does a good job in providing the current diagnostic methods.
The story seemed to give mixed messages about the value of screening with the new blood test. An investigator is quoted as noting that current methods of melanoma detection are expensive and invasive, involving a trip to a clinician, who must biopsy the lesion to discover whether it is cancerous. Elsewhere, the release notes that you still need a biopsy to evaluate a positive blood test. Clearly, a clinician visit and biopsy will always be required to diagnosis a cancer.
Aside from self-examination, having a clinician perform a skin exam during routine examinations is another alternative to the blood test–but is not addressed in the story.
It is clear from the story that the tests are in the experimental stages and not available commercially.
This report appears to be the first of its kind related to melanoma.
The story does not appear to rely on a press release.
Systematic, Criteria-Driven
I miss @HealthNewsRevu popping up in my feed. Loved seeing this one today.
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/06/zombie-health-care-news/
#healthcare #journalism #ethics #conflictofinterest
Puleeeeease... this 'game changer' weight loss drug causes more nausea and vomiting than a placebo. Some game, some change. My friend Gary would spank you for using the eighth word medical reporters should never, ever use. @garyschwitzer @thackerpd
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/toolkit/just-journalists-writing-tips-case-studies/7-words-and-more-you-shouldnt-use-in-medical-news/ https://twitter.com/OttawaCitizen/status/1361426796126830597
A scary @statnews Op-Ed warns that govt attempts to rein in Pharma may cut off access to "life-changing" drugs.
It takes @garyschwitzer to let us know: the author spent 10 years as Pfizer's public-policy chief. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1360325022578053123
Comments
Please note, comments are no longer published through this website. All previously made comments are still archived and available for viewing through select posts.
Our Comments Policy
But before leaving a comment, please review these notes about our policy.
You are responsible for any comments you leave on this site.
This site is primarily a forum for discussion about the quality (or lack thereof) in journalism or other media messages (advertising, marketing, public relations, medical journals, etc.) It is not intended to be a forum for definitive discussions about medicine or science.
We will delete comments that include personal attacks, unfounded allegations, unverified claims, product pitches, profanity or any from anyone who does not list a full name and a functioning email address. We will also end any thread of repetitive comments. We don”t give medical advice so we won”t respond to questions asking for it.
We don”t have sufficient staffing to contact each commenter who left such a message. If you have a question about why your comment was edited or removed, you can email us at feedback@healthnewsreview.org.
There has been a recent burst of attention to troubles with many comments left on science and science news/communication websites. Read “Online science comments: trolls, trash and treasure.”
The authors of the Retraction Watch comments policy urge commenters:
We”re also concerned about anonymous comments. We ask that all commenters leave their full name and provide an actual email address in case we feel we need to contact them. We may delete any comment left by someone who does not leave their name and a legitimate email address.
And, as noted, product pitches of any sort – pushing treatments, tests, products, procedures, physicians, medical centers, books, websites – are likely to be deleted. We don”t accept advertising on this site and are not going to give it away free.
The ability to leave comments expires after a certain period of time. So you may find that you’re unable to leave a comment on an article that is more than a few months old.
You might also like