American scientists have developed a new urine test that helps accurately diagnose prostate cancer, potentially eliminating the need for unnecessary biopsies. Researchers from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee are behind this groundbreaking discovery.
Jeffrey Thoisan, Director of Translational Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, led the study and stated that this test, called MyProstate Score 2.0 (MPS2), can detect 17 specific genetic markers associated with cancer.
The researchers claim that the test has a 95% accuracy rate for diagnosing Group 2 prostate cancers and a 99% accuracy rate for detecting Group 3 or higher prostate cancers. By sequencing approximately 60,000 genes, the researchers identified 54 biomarkers that indicate prostate cancer, with 17 markers specifically signaling high-grade cancer.
The trial was conducted on 743 men with an average age of 62 years and an average prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 5.6. Currently, doctors recommend biopsies and MRI scans for individuals with a PSA blood test score higher than 4 nanograms per milliliter.
Biopsy is a critical procedure for diagnosing prostate cancer, involving the insertion of a needle into the prostate to collect samples. However, PSA levels can also rise due to non-cancerous reasons, leading to false-positive results.
Consequently, individuals with high PSA scores often need to undergo biopsies to confirm the presence of cancer. The new test aims to reduce unnecessary biopsies by accurately identifying cancer risk before proceeding with further procedures.
The researchers claim that the MPS2 test can reduce unnecessary biopsies by 35% to 42%. The study’s findings have been published in the JAMA Oncology journal.
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