Simple test promises earlier detection of Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer could be detected at its earliest and most treatable stage with a newly developed computerised screening method.

Researchers at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have described their non-invasive test as a major step forward against the disease, which is called the silent killer because it is usually not diagnosed until it has spread beyond the ovaries.

The 30-minute blood test has been used to detect ovarian cancer, but the scientists say it could be used for any type of cancer.

"Early detection means we can treat the cancer before it has spread," Dr Lance Liotta, the senior researcher on the study from the NCI's Centre for Cancer Research, said.

The test, which is reported on the Lancet medical journal's website (www.thelancet.com), marries proteomics and artificial intelligence computer programmes to fight cancer. Proteomics is the study of proteins inside cells.

When the scientists used the test on blood samples from patients with and without ovarian cancer, it identified all 50 cancer samples and 63 out of 66 non-cancer samples.

Most importantly, it was able to identify those patients with early ovarian cancer.

More than 80 per cent of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed with late-stage cancer when five-year survival rates are 20 per cent or less.

The scientists said the next major step was to confirm the findings with larger trials.

Kathryn Zoon, the director of the Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, said simple, accurate and non-invasive methods of early detection of ovarian cancer might improve the quality of life and survival rate, and reduce unnecessary suffering for patients.

- REUTERS

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