the Prostate cancer is a disease that affects around 400,000 men and causes 92,000 deaths per year in Europe. Currently, its screening is done by measuring the blood level of PSA (prostate specific antigen) and via palpation of the prostate. However, these tests are not reliable enough to clearly diagnose cancer. And once these steps have been taken, patients should perform a biopsy which is only positive in 45% of cases.
Find new types of cancer biomarkers
This is why Antonin Morillon, CNRS research director at the Institut Curie, is working on the development of a non-invasive, rapid and robust urinary diagnostic test (called Prostator) which would allow the detection of Prostate cancerearly and without unnecessary biopsy. His project has just obtained funding from the European Research Council. The test will use the “hidden” part of the genome to find new types of cancer biomarkers.
How will the test be carried out?
From the first visit to the urologist (or during clinical monitoring), urine will be collected in a tube by the patient after examination of the prostate. The doctor will forward it directly to a lab to perform the Prostator molecular test and refine the decision to send the patient for a biopsy. “In this way, unnecessary biopsies will be avoided, reducing the risks of psychological and physiological stress for patients, while better controlling the costs for health systems. This test has the advantage of being rapid and economical” underlines Institut Curie.
Researchers will continue to work on this test for at least 18 months, to validate its use in practice on more than 1000 patients.
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