Scientists at the University of Surrey, UK, have made a major breakthrough in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. they have developed a new way of more reliably detecting the cancer by testing a small urine sample from men, allowing faster testing that could save lives and offer the potential for huge cost savings. the research was enabled by a close partnership between the University of Surrey and the Prostate Project charity. a three-year study, published today (1 March) in the US journal Clinical Cancer Research, shows that a protein called Engrailed-2 (EN2) is made by prostate cancers and secreted into urine where it can be easily detected using the new test that is simple, quick and has the potential to be used in GP surgeries. EN2 is an important protein in the development of the human embryo and, like many similar 'early life' proteins, its production is 'switched off' at birth – but analysis of urine samples from 288 patients by the team at the University of Surrey found that EN2 is switched back on in prostate cancer. unlike the new EN2 test the standard 30-year-old PSA test for prostate cancer involves taking a blood sample and is unable to detect a significant proportion of early prostate cancers, which go on to kill over 10,000 men in the UK every year. the new EN2 test has been proven to be more reliable and accurate than existing tests, said Professor Hardev Pandha, the Prostate Project Chair of Urological Oncology at the University of Surrey's Postgraduate Medical School. "in this study we showed that the new test was twice as good at finding prostate cancer as the standard PSA test. only rarely did we find EN2 in the urine of men who were cancer free so, if we find EN2 we can be reasonably sure that a man has prostate cancer. EN2 was not detected in men with non-cancer disorders of the prostate such as prostatitis or benign enlargement. these conditions often cause a high PSA result, causing considerable stress for the patient and sometimes also unnecessary further tests such as prostate biopsies." With the current EN2 test, men provide a small urine sample either in the surgery or at home which their doctor sends to a lab. Professor Pandha said the testing method could, in the near future, be made into an even simpler ‘desktop’ test that a family doctor could perform in their surgery. the prospect of an immediate result that doesn’t involve a blood test or an embarrassing examination may be helpful in getting more men with urinary symptoms to seek medical help, he added. "unlike the development of drug treatments, the time taken to verify the potential of EN2 in the diagnosis of prostate cancer is relatively modest," said co-researcher Dr Richard Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Oncology at the University of Surrey. "we are preparing several large studies in the UK and in the US and although the EN2 test is not yet available several companies have expressed interest in taking it forward." Patients were tested at St George's Hospital, University of London, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, and Basingstoke Hospital. the research was funded by the University of Surrey and the Prostate Project charity. Scientist, medical doctor, and TV presenter Professor Robert Winston, who champions public engagement with science, said: “This is an exciting discovery which advances the early detection of this cancer. It also shows just how vital the research carried out in universities such as Surrey really is in helping to find faster, better solutions to some of the healthcare challenges that face us all." Chairman of the Prostate Project Colin Stokes said: "we are all elated at this development. Huge credit must go to Professor Pandha, Dr Morgan and their outstanding team of researchers at the University of Surrey. I would like to thank everyone who has given their time and money so generously to our charity which has helped make today’s announcement possible. some individuals and companies have been outstandingly generous. the charity is run entirely by volunteers and 98% of all the funds we raise for research go to the work at the University of Surrey and this has paid off handsomely. All our work over the last seven years has been geared to days like today – when we really do give men a better chance of beating prostate cancer."
For more information:prostate-project.org.uk
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Last updated on: 01/03/2011 17:30:49