TESTING TIMES
Prostate cancer could be detected early with ‘painless’ test that can be done at home, say researchers
Find out some of the risk factors for prostate cancer below
PROSTATE cancer could be detected early by a simple urine test, according to new research.
The breakthrough could potentially save thousands of lives as it is the most common cancer among men in the UK.
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Prostate cancer claims the lives of more than 12,000 men in the UK every year, while latest figures show that one in eight will be diagnosed with it in their lifetime.
Now a newly study, published in the journal Cancer Research, indicates that the potential killer can be diagnosed at an early stage through a urine sample.
With the aid of AI and extensive analyses of gene activity in tumours, researchers have identified new biomarkers of "high diagnostic precision".
One of the main hurdles in diagnosing prostate cancer is the lack of exact biomarkers able to identify the presence of an early tumour.
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Researchers at Imperial College London, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, have identified new, precise biomarkers.
On analysing the mRNA activity of all human genes in thousands of individual cells in prostate tumours, and knowing the position and degree of cancer of each cell, the research team were able to construct digital models of prostate cancer.
The models were analysed, using AI, to find proteins that can be used as biomarkers.
The biomarkers were then analysed in the blood, prostate tissue and urine of almost 2,000 patients.
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Researchers identified a set of biomarkers in urine that were able to indicate the presence and severity of prostate cancer with a "high degree" of precision.
According to their calculations, they surpass PSA, the blood biomarker in current clinical use.
'Pivotal' prostate cancer discovery using AI 'could save thousands of lives' and 'revolutionise how disease is treated'
Principal investigator Professor Mikael Benson, of the Karolinska Institute, said: "There are many advantages to measuring biomarkers in urine.
"It's non-invasive and painless and can potentially be done at home.
"The sample can then be analysed using routine methods in clinical labs."
Large-scale clinical trials are being planned for the next phase of the research.
One such is being discussed with study co-author Professor Rakesh Heer, of Imperial College.
Prof Heer is head of Transform, the UK's national prostate cancer study, which offers a platform for expediting the testing of promising biomarkers.
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Prof Benson added: "New, more precise biomarkers than PSA can lead to earlier diagnosis and better prognoses for men with prostate cancer.
"Moreover, it can reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies in healthy men."
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer affects a small, walnut shaped gland that sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra - the tube carrying pee outside the body.
It usually grows bigger as you get older.
The prostate's main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm.
Most men with early prostate cancer don’t have any signs or symptoms - that’s why it’s important to know about your risk.
Possible symptoms include:
- Difficulty starting to urinate or emptying your bladder
- A weak flow when you urinate
- A feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
- Dribbling urine after you finish urinating
- Needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night
- A sudden need to urinate – you may sometimes leak urine before you get to the toilet
If you do notice changes in the way you urinate, this is more likely to be a sign of an enlarged prostate, which is very common and non-cancerous.
But it’s still a good idea to get it checked out.
In the UK, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Some factors may mean you're more likely to get it.
This includes:
- Getting older – it mainly affects men aged 50 or over
- Having a family history of prostate cancer
- Being Black
If you have any of these risk factors or if you have any symptoms, speak to your GP.
They can talk to you about your risk, and about the tests that are used to diagnose prostate cancer.
Source: Prostate Cancer UK