Cancer News
Researchers develop accurate prostate cancer blood test
Promising results pave the way for improved diagnosis
Scientists have recently invented a blood test that identifies prostate cancer with greater accuracy than conventional screening methods . The Prostate Screening EpiSwitch ( PSE ) test , conducted by researchers at the University of East Anglia ( UEA ) in England , has a 94 percent accuracy rate compared to the standard prostate-specific antigen ( PSA ) test , reflecting its potential as a precise and rapid cancer diagnostics method . Oxford Biodynamics , Imperial College London , and Imperial College NHS Trust worked alongside UEA to devise the test .
A related study , recently published in the journal Cancers , is examining whether combining the Episwitch PCa test focusing on genetic changes with the standard PSA test can improve its diagnostic accuracy . Continuous advances in genetic testing have enabled scientists to link genetic alterations , such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation , to the development of prostate cancer . Apart from improving accuracy , researchers are also devising a diagnostics test that is less invasive and cost-effective .
The PSE test was administered to 147 patients who either participated in the PROSTAGRAM pilot study managed by the local non-profit group Prostate Matters , individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer , or comprised the control group of healthy subjects . Comparing its results to those of the standard PSA test , they discovered that PSE significantly improved the overall accuracy of detection for men at risk .
Due to its high accuracy , non-invasive nature , and low cost , the PSE test can be used for diagnostic and screening purposes , reducing the need for costly and invasive MRI or biopsy testing .
Frequent drug purchases may indicate ovarian cancer
Loyalty card data enables early diagnosis
Consumers with increased purchases of overthe-counter medications using a loyalty card are more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer early , improving the chances for a successful treatment .
According to a study published in the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance , purchases of painkillers and indigestion medications , such as antacids , were higher in women diagnosed with ovarian cancer than in those who were not .
The study , funded by Cancer Research UK , was the first of its kind involving cancer and involved researchers from Imperial College London , University College London , and the University of Birmingham . Researchers examined data from two loyalty cards provided by UK high street retailers , which included purchase records for 273 women who had at least one of the loyalty cards in the past six years . It was determined later that 153 of them were diagnosed with ovarian cancer .
Early symptoms of ovarian cancer include indigestion , abdominal pain , loss of appetite , and frequent urination . However , these symptoms were not severe enough for some women to consult a doctor . This oversight frequently resulted in a late diagnosis , by which time the cancer had spread and the chances of recovery were slim .
The researchers also reported that 93 percent of patients diagnosed with stage 1 ovarian cancer survive for five years or more , whereas only 13 percent of patients detected at stage 4 survive for five years . This highlights the significance of loyalty card data as a tool for early diagnosis and further suggests that the data could be used to establish an alert system to encourage individuals to seek medical attention for symptoms that may be linked to cancer .
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