Experts Unveil Easier Way to Detect Prostate Cancer More Accurately Than Blood Tests

A urine examination for prostate issues cancer has shown to be much more precise in detecting compared to the present blood tests utilized.

The novel method has become the leading contender for prospective clinical trials, sparking hope that, for the first time, a regular screening process might be feasible.

The updated technique checks for proteins released by prostate tumors, which can be identified in urine. The Times reported.

A trial is underway aiming to transform the way cases are detected, enrolling between 250,000 to 300,000 British men over the coming eight years.

According to a study published in the journal Cancer Research, the new test attained an AUC score of 0.92 when applied to archived specimens from prostate cancer patients.

The score represented a notable enhancement over conventional prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing, typically having an area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.65 to 0.75.

At present, over 12,000 males die each year from prostate cancer in the UK, where over 52,000 new cases are diagnosed annually.

Lately, there has been an increased call for regular screenings. The situation worsened following Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy's announcement about his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis in the previous year.

Nevertheless, specialists concur that currently, the testing methodologies lack sufficient accuracy for routine examinations.

Presently, PSA tests are recognized for their poor accuracy, resulting in both false alarms and unwarranted biopsies along with some cases going undiagnosed.

However, the new tests can not only detect the presence of prostate cancer with high precision but can also indicate disease severity.

It is only after a major clinical trial gets underway that experts can determine how effectively it performs in real-world scenarios.

Professor Rakesh Heer, who leads the Department of Urology at Imperial College and is involved with the Transform study group, informed The Times that this £42 million initiative represents one of the most significant diagnostic trials in recent decades.

This might be a groundbreaking development for prostate cancer research altogether, he mentioned.

Mikael Benson from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, who headed the research, stated: "More accurate biomarkers compared to PSA have the potential to result in earlier detection and improved outcomes for men suffering from prostate cancer."

'They could also reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies carried out on healthy men.'

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