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A new saliva test is set to revolutionize the early detection of prostate cancer. It is not only easier and cheaper than a blood test – but also more accurate.
London – Prostate cancer is insidious: When the first symptoms appear, the Illness usually already at an advanced stage. Precise early detection is therefore important. In addition, more and more men are affected: An examination of the Commission of the renowned journal The Lancet resultedthat cases will probably more than double by 2040. Scientists at the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) in London have now developed a new test with greater accuracy.
More effective early detection: Researchers develop saliva test for prostate cancer
Doctors have so far used so-called prostate-specific antigen tests, or PSA tests for short, to search for the Most common cancer in men worldwideHowever, the method can be improved. “The PSA test falsely identifies prostate cancer in three out of four men and detects cancers that grow so slowly that they are unlikely to ever become life-threatening – meaning men have to undergo unnecessary MRI scans, invasive biopsies and treatments,” say the ICR researchers in London in a notice.
However, the scientists have now achieved success with a new test method: The newly developed saliva test is not only cheaper, faster and easier to use than the blood test normally used, but also delivers more precise results, according to the researchers. Overall, the new test identified fewer false positive results than the PSA test, detected cases of cancer that the PSA test would have missed, and diagnosed a higher proportion of aggressive types of cancer. In addition, the saliva test “also identifies men with prostate cancer that was missed in an MRI scan.”
Saliva test apparently more precise than PSA test: Further expansion of functionality planned
The study calculated the so-called polygenic risk score, or PRS for short, of 6,142 European men aged 55 to 69. The score is based on 130 variations in the DNA code that are associated with prostate cancer. 40 percent of men with a high value in the saliva test actually had prostate cancer, while only 25 percent of men diagnosed with the PSA test actually had the disease. Further risk variants were identified for men of Asian and African descent. “The ICR team plans to test a saliva test specifically for these population groups,” the researchers report.
“This test could revolutionize prostate cancer diagnosis. We have shown that a simple, inexpensive saliva test to identify men at higher genetic risk is an effective means of early detection of Cancer “This research is a significant step towards improved early detection of the disease and underlines “the important role that genetic testing can play in saving lives.” Researchers in the USA recently developed a urine test for Early detection of particularly aggressive prostate cancers developed.
The information provided in this article is no substitute for consulting a doctor. Only specialists can make the correct diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy. The use of medication or nutritional supplements should be discussed with a doctor beforehand.
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