A blood test for prostate cancer could save thousands of men from unnecessary biopsies.
Experts say the breakthrough holds “huge promise” for detecting the disease, the most common male cancer in the UK, which affects one in eight men in their lifetime.
Men who see their GP with symptoms have a blood test called a PSA test, which can be inaccurate.
It found that a new check caught 91 percent of positive cases in 210 men suspected of having prostate cancer.
It didn’t generate false positives for men who didn’t have prostate cancer, so it could save thousands from a painful biopsy or MRI scan they might be sent for based on a false PSA result.
(File Image) Experts say prostate cancer blood test could save thousands of men from unnecessary biopsies
(Stock Image) Scientists are excited about a next generation of more accurate blood tests that can screen healthy men for early signs of cancer
The new liquid biopsy works by absorbing prostate cancer tumor cells into the blood.
A team that included researchers from India and Imperial College London tested it on men with signs of cancer, such as an enlarged prostate or urinary tract problems.
One third of these men were later diagnosed with prostate cancer, while two thirds had benign prostate disease.
Of the 68 men who had cancer, 56 tested positive and six had less conclusive but probably non-negative results.
It gave a negative result for all 142 men who did not have prostate cancer.
Simon Grieveson of Prostate Cancer UK said: “Detection of cancer cells in the blood has shown great potential in recent years and Prostate Cancer UK and Movember are jointly funding research into whether it can also help identify the best treatment for men with cancer. Cancer is still localized in the prostate.
“These results are promising and suggest that it is possible to use this test to detect the cancer in the first place.”
The standard test used by the NHS looks for prostate-specific antigen – a type of protein found in the prostate.
Last month, a blood test that combined the PSA test with a test for changes in immune cells in the blood was found to be 93 percent accurate for positive results when tested on 147 men.
Scientists are excited about a next generation of more accurate blood tests that can be used to screen healthy men for early signs of cancer. The research is published in Cancer Medicine.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
