LONDON: Scientists have tested a new blood test that could help doctors determine when treatment for advanced Prostate Cancer is beginning to fail, potentially allowing for more personalized care and longer survival for patients.
The study, led by researchers at University College London, examined whether tiny fragments of tumor DNA circulating in the bloodstream could be used to detect continued cancer growth.
The trial involved 117 men who had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and were treated at 14 National Health Service centers across the United Kingdom.
Researchers found that tumor DNA remained clearly detectable in the blood of three out of every 10 patients six to 12 weeks after treatment began.
The most significant finding was that combining the tumor DNA results with Prostate-Specific Antigen, or PSA, levels identified men who were at a 20-fold higher risk of death compared with patients whose blood showed no detectable tumor DNA and who had low PSA levels.
Researchers said the test could help physicians identify sooner which patients are not responding well to treatment and adjust therapy accordingly.
Further studies are expected before the blood test can be used routinely in clinical practice.
Earlier, Early trial results of a newly developed drug for advanced prostate cancer have been described by medical experts as “remarkable,” raising hopes for patients who have exhausted conventional treatment options.
The innovative therapy is a form of immunotherapy designed to activate the body’s own immune system against cancer.
According to researchers, the treatment not only helped shrink existing tumors but also demonstrated the ability to halt further tumor growth.
Cancer specialists have welcomed the findings, particularly because traditional immunotherapies have historically shown limited success in prostate cancer.
More read, New drug trial offers hope for prostate cancer patients
In many cases, earlier treatments failed to significantly reduce tumors and were associated with severe side effects.
