Genetic screening for cancer ‘improves diagnosis’

GENETIC SCREENING for prostate cancer at doctors’ surgeries could detect undiagnosed cases of the disease in apparently healthy men, a study suggests.

New prostate cancers were identified in more than a third of participants who were found to have the highest levels of inherited risk, the pilot research showed.

The small study shows population screening is safe and feasible, those behind the research carried out by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust alongside GPs said. One of the participants described it as “quite remarkable” how cancer the size of a grain of sand had been detected in his case.

Scientists said a larger study involving some 5,000 patients is ready to be launched, aimed at conclusively showing that population genetic screening for prostate cancer can improve diagnosis and therefore save lives.

All 307 men aged 55-69 who were invited to take part in the screening pilot were given risk scores based on genetic changes that can influence the chances of developing prostate cancer.

Eighteen of the 26 people found to be in the top 10 per cent of risk accepted an invitation to be screened, undergoing an MRI scan and a biopsy. Seven of the 18, who had all been considered healthy, were diagnosed with prostate cancer, researchers said.

One of them, Remy Smits, said the detection of such a tiny presence of cancer had surprised him, but he was relieved it was found early.

The 59-year-old said: “Whilst the realisation that I have cancer came as a shock, I feel better knowing that it has been identified at a very early stage.

“I also feel that I am now in a much better position to make an informed decision about any future treatment options.”