The diagnostic tool, which leverages the power of mass spectrometry, promises to offer a minimally invasive and highly reliable method for identifying the condition, potentially revolutionizing the way endometriosis is diagnosed.

Endometriosis, a common but often overlooked condition in women, occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, causing pain and, in some cases, infertility.

Current diagnostic methods, such as laparoscopic surgery, are invasive and expensive, which has led researchers to explore alternative approaches. The new blood test, still in development, aims to detect biomarkers of the disease at an early stage, even before symptoms become pronounced.

Professor Piotr Laudański, head of the Chair and Clinic of Obstetrics, Women’s Diseases, and Oncological Gynecology at the Medical University of Warsaw, said: ‘We are developing a diagnostic test that is not only sensitive and reliable, but also minimally invasive. This test uses mass spectrometry to analyze blood samples, which will allow us to detect endometriosis with greater precision.’

The work on the diagnostic panel is being led by specialists from the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences, with a strong emphasis on scientific rigor and accuracy. However, as the panel nears the final stages of development, the team is now seeking collaborations with medical centers to conduct large-scale studies and confirm the test’s effectiveness on a broader population.

‘We’ve already conducted preliminary tests using plasma samples from a smaller group of patients, but we need a larger, independent group of women to further validate our findings’, said Professor Laudański. ‘We are looking for partners and investors to help implement this groundbreaking diagnostic tool in clinical practice.’

The key technology behind this diagnostic panel is mass spectrometry, an advanced technique that can detect and quantify the molecular composition of a sample. Unlike traditional diagnostic methods, mass spectrometry can identify even trace amounts of specific compounds that may indicate the early stages of disease. This ability to detect markers in a patient’s blood offers several advantages, including the ability to monitor the progression of the disease or evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.

Professor Michał Dadlez, head of the Mass Spectrometry Laboratory at the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, said: ‘Mass spectrometry is capable of identifying dozens, or even hundreds, of different markers in a single sample. It is highly sensitive and specific, which makes it ideal for detecting diseases like endometriosis, where a single, definitive marker is often hard to pinpoint.’

The technique has already proven effective in diagnosing a range of conditions, including congenital metabolic disorders, cancers, and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's. However, its use in detecting endometriosis, a condition for which no single reliable biomarker has been found, could be a game-changer for women’s health.

While the primary focus is on endometriosis, the potential applications of mass spectrometry extend far beyond this one disease. The ability to identify multiple biomarkers in a single blood sample could pave the way for earlier diagnosis of a wide range of conditions, from cancers to autoimmune diseases, and even neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis.

Emilia Samborowska, an expert in metabolomics at the Institute, explained that blood plasma is the most effective material for creating such diagnostic panels. ‘Plasma provides excellent repeatability of results due to standardized collection procedures. It’s a minimally invasive way to gather the necessary data, unlike biopsies or other more invasive methods’, she said.

In addition to endometriosis, the method holds promise for detecting cancers like lung, breast, and pancreatic cancer, and even chronic conditions such as multiple sclerosis. According to Bianka Świderska, a specialist in proteomics, mass spectrometry’s flexibility makes it ideal for this kind of comprehensive diagnostic approach. ‘We can analyze not just proteins, but also metabolites and lipids, without needing to create antibodies—an expensive and often challenging process with traditional diagnostic methods’, she said.

Despite the promising results, the development of this diagnostic panel requires significant funding and expertise across various fields, including biotechnology, biology, medicine, and statistics. The researchers are now calling on the business community to help turn this potential into a widely available, clinically approved diagnostic tool.

‘The progress we’ve made so far is encouraging, but to bring this test to market, we need both financial backing and collaboration from medical professionals’, said Professor Dadlez. ‘Mass spectrometry is a versatile and powerful tool, but its potential for broader applications in diagnostics remains largely untapped. We are eager to see it used to improve the lives of patients, starting with those suffering from endometriosis’.

(PAP)

PAP - Science in Poland

zbw/ zan/ kap/

tr. RL