A new study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago has revealed promising early research suggesting that at-home spit tests may be more effective than standard blood tests for identifying men who have a high genetic risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer. These preliminary findings have raised hopes of a potentially more accurate screening tool for a disease that claims around 12,000 lives a year in the UK.
The study also indicates that the current standard blood test for prostate cancer, which measures levels of a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA), is not accurate enough. Additionally, scientists have developed a spit test that could “turn the tide” on prostate cancer worldwide by spotting the disease earlier, detecting where men are at high risk, and sparing others unnecessary treatment.
The DNA test, which takes seconds to collect, can detect men at high risk and spare others unnecessary treatment. According to experts, the current standard PSA blood tests can miss men who do have cancer and also cause others to go through needless treatment or pointless further checks and scans.
The number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer worldwide is projected to double to 2.9 million a year by 2040, with annual deaths predicted to rise by 85%. It is already the most common form of male cancer in more than 100 countries, making early diagnosis crucial.
The preliminary findings of the study suggest that the at-home spit test is a significant step forward in the early detection of prostate cancer. With the potential to identify men at high risk and spare others unnecessary treatment, the new screening method offers hope in combating a disease that is on the rise globally.
If further research confirms the effectiveness of the at-home spit test, it could revolutionize prostate cancer screening by providing a more accurate and reliable method for identifying individuals at high genetic risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer.
