Researchers have managed to find out that cancerous tumors have their very own genetic fingerprints, a discovery that might be a breakthrough in finding of new and personalized blood tests to know if a patient's cancer has come back.

A team of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center analyzed the DNA of tumors from as many as 6 patients with breast or colon cancer. It was revealed that doctors were able to utilize the DNA fingerprint to track the activity of cancerous cells in the body. Also, they were able to access whether or not had the disease been successfully treated or id it needed more aggressive treatment.

John Hopkins has now filed for a patent on the new technology, which could be ready for use on a more common basis within the coming years.

Details of the study have been published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.