Legends (detailed medical studies) tell us of a Holy Grail (not that one) that could hold the key to the early detection of cancer. I have been searching high and low for signs of grail. Deciphering ancient hieroglyphics, fleeing giant rolling boulders, dodging those tiny little darts that always come out of the walls, you know, really putting the work in. After all that, my research indicates that the “Grail” in question is actually a blood test with an uncanny ability to predict tumors before they even begin to form! A discovery of this magnitude could completely change the way cancer is diagnosed and treated.

During my travels and adventures, my main aspiration was to learn all I could about the origin and capabilities of the grail test. For starters, unlike the original Holy Grail, this one was developed in 2021 by the Indian Medical firm, Epigenergs Biotech. This grail was created to be unique compared to its earlier counterparts. To accurately explain the difference between the old tests and the grail, we will first have to take a more in-depth look into the nature of a tumor. 

Every cell begins the same way, as a stem cell, and it takes about 1 billion of these microscopic cancer cells to form a single tumor. When a tumor forms, it goes through a disturbing process called metastasizing, which is when a tumor sheds cancer cells into the bloodstream to seed tumors in other organs. Each new tumor that forms is in possession of certain revealing biomarkers. Previous iterations of cancer blood tests were designed to look for fully fledged tumor cells already present in the body, which often meant it was too late for treatment. What makes the grail different is its ability to pin-point stem cells with cancer indicating biomarkers, which allows for a more preemptive treatment plan. Not only can the grail accurately predict cancer before stage 1 it can also decipher what type of cancer is forming and its current location.

Despite searching in places like primordial caves, underwater temples, and mystical pyramids my organization has been unsuccessful in our search for the grail. Evidence was found in the last place any adventurer would expect… in the pages of a highly convoluted medical journal. While this may seem less exciting than my usual expeditions, the results discovered in this journal were more than enough to raise my spirits. In a trial of 1,000 participants split up between 500 non-cancer patients and 500 cancer patients, the grail was able to accurately predict the formation of tumors across 25 different types of cancer including breast, lung and colorectal. Even more astonishing, was the fact that this trial did not yield any kind of false results. It even detected a predisposition for cancer in several of the non-cancer participants.

This blood test was given the name “Holy Grail” by its discoverers for its remarkable potential. Before the grail, detecting cancer was not an easy process. Normally, a patient would undergo a number of tests, scans, and clinical appointments. The grail is just a single blood test with the ability to detect cancer even before its first stages, making it a superior alternative. The widespread application of this test could forever revolutionize the way we treat cancer. Today, the grail is being utilized in hospitals all throughout the United Kingdom with high hopes of bringing it stateside soon. The potential for this test is promising and, before long, could solidify its spot in history alongside its famous predecessor.

To learn more about the holy grail findings published in the Journal of Stem Cells, click here.