WASHINGTON, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study has identified hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 (HAVCR1) as a biomarker that could make it easier to diagnose rare but aggressive forms of brain and eye cancer earlier and with fewer invasive procedures.
The research, conducted by scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and published in the journal Nature Medicine, analyzed tissue samples from 150 patients with rare cancers such as medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and retinoblastoma. The study found that HAVCR1 was overexpressed in 85% of these tumors compared to healthy tissue.
Dr. Sarah Thompson, lead author and NIH researcher, stated: 'This biomarker could enable liquid biopsies to detect these cancers from blood or cerebrospinal fluid, reducing the need for surgical biopsies.' The team also noted that HAVCR1 levels correlated with tumor aggressiveness and treatment response.
Further validation is needed before clinical use, but experts say this could lead to earlier detection and personalized treatment for patients with these rare cancers. The study was funded by the NIH's National Cancer Institute.
