Research shows that men at high risk of developing prostate cancer may be diagnosed earlier if primary care physicians take into account genetic vulnerabilities.
One-fifth of annual referrals for suspected prostate cancer may be expedited for research, while another 40% may avoid invasive referrals and biopsies if a genetic cancer risk is included in primary care triage.
Fast-tracking the men most at risk can improve survival rates, leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment.
While one-fifth of annual suspected prostate cancer reports could be expedited, the other 40% would avoid referral and invasive biopsies if a genetic cancer risk is included in the primary care physician’s triage (archive image)
General practitioners produce around 800,000 suspected prostate cancer reports in the UK each year. According to research by the University of Exeter, published in the British Journal of Cancer, about 160,000 men could be speeded up and 320,000 procrastination prevented if genetic risk was considered a factor.
The team combined more than 250 known genetic variants associated with the disease into a single “score” to define an individual’s genetic risk of developing prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is responsible for around a quarter of new cancers in men: around 52,000 men are diagnosed each year in the UK alone.
It is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in men and doubles its five-year survival if detected early.
According to Prostate Cancer UK, men are two and a half times more likely to develop prostate cancer if they have a father or brother. There may be a higher chance of getting it if the father or brother is under 60 at the time of diagnosis or has more than one close relative.
Lead author Dr Harry Green, from the University of Exeter School of Medicine, said: “Our study is the first to show that incorporating genetic risk into the GP’s risk assessment of possible symptoms of prostate cancer may lead to faster referral to prostate cancer. those at highest risk. .’
According to Prostate Cancer UK, men are two and a half times more likely to develop prostate cancer if they have a father or brother.
Current prostate cancer indicator tests give false positives in two-thirds of cases, meaning thousands of people undergo invasive and painful biopsies.
Pictured is lead author Dr. Harry Green said the study is the first to show that incorporating genetic risk can lead to faster referrals.
Tests can also miss about 15 percent of cancers, according to research.
A man who shared his story with researchers experienced 18 months of fear. Richard Westlake, 74, a retired train driver, was warned in November 2015 that nighttime trips to the bathroom could be a sign of the condition.
Its green light didn’t arrive until June 2017.
He said: “If this new way of evaluating patients can reduce the number of men who have to experience it, I think it would have enormous benefits.”
“A much simpler and much cheaper blood test currently available for prostate-specific antigen has more value as a biomarker in diagnosing prostate cancer,” said Dusko Ilic, professor of stem cell science at King’s College London.
Source: Daily Mail
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