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Better Diagnostic Test for Prostate Disease Likel

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 March 2005, 06:00 CST

Following successful initial clinical studies, a joint venture between University of Sunderland Pharmacy School and Sunderland City Hospitals NHS Trust is hopeful of developing a faster and more accurate diagnostic test for prostate cancer.

In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with approximately 27,000 new cases reported every year. One in 11 men face the risk of being diagnosed with the disease and the mortality rate is 10,000 per year, a figure which has been increasing annually by around 10pc. Like many cancers, if caught early the prognosis is good.

The new trials are to identify diagnostic markers in urine which, where elevation of these markers occurs, will indicate a likelihood of prostate cancer.

Damien Green, consultant urologist at The Royal Hospital in Sunderland, said: "The current diagnostic test for prostate cancer is widely recognised as less than perfect as it produces a large number of false positives, resulting in many thousands of unnecessary biopsies every year.

"This in turn, places a large financial burden on the NHS ( the current annual cost (in England & Wales) of treating prostate cancer is pounds 55m."

The next phase of the project, due to start in the next few months, involves a large increase in the number of urine tests the team analyses.

It will involve testing hundreds of samples, with the aim of confirming the link between elevated levels of the identified biomarker compound and prostate cancer.

Should these be successful, it is anticipated a test will be developed for use by GPs. This will give a more accurate indication of needs and eradicate the large numbers of unnecessary and expensive biopsies that currently take place.

The Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (CELS), set up by the regional development agency One NorthEast to drive the growth of the healthcare economy in the North-East, has been involved with the project from the start, providing advice, guidance and access to funding.

Keith Morris, CELS director said: "It is early days yet, but initial results are promising. Like all these projects, results don't happen overnight and there are hurdles to overcome before the new test can be marketed. If however, as anticipated, it makes it to market, it will offer a hugely improved test for prostate cancer that will save many lives in the future, as well as create jobs and prosperity for the region.

"It is a great example of the rewards available when partners such as the universities, the NHS and CELS work together.

"We each bring expertise that, when combined, is a powerful driver for the growing reputation that the North-East is building as a hotspot for healthcare excellence."

Paul Groundwater, a Professor of Organic Chemistry at Sunderland Pharmacy School said, "CELS will help us to access further funding for the project, as well as guide us through regulatory approval. Their experience will be vital during the commercial process of getting the test to market."

The Prostate Cancer Charity chief executive, John Neate, said, "This is very exciting news. We are aware that the traditional PSA blood test can give false-positive results and may mean that men go for unnecessary biopsies.

If the new test can reduce this by its accuracy, then we welcome its advance. We have been hoping for a more reliable cancer- specific test to be developed and if this proves successful, it will be welcomed by everyone."

Source: The Journal - Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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