A REVOLUTIONARY new blood test that detects ovarian cancer could save thousands of lives.
Researchers say it will also spare many more the risks and pain of unnecessary surgery.
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The disease is known as a “silent killer” because it has no specific symptoms is often discovered late when hard to treat.
Women with cysts or persistent bloating may be given an ultrasound scan to look for abnormalities.
But the only way to diagnose it is through surgery – with five women needing ops to find one confirmed case.
Now Swedish scientists have developed a test that analyses 11 proteins in the blood and could be used as a screening tool.
Studies suggest it can identify women with abnormal ultrasound scans that do not have the disease.
It is expected it cut the operation rate down from one confirmed case in five to one in three.
Prof Ulf Gyllensten, from Uppsala University, said: “Our results are promising enough to consider screening for early discovery of ovarian cancer.
“I see great prospects of developing a strategy for screening for ovarian cancer, which could save lives and minimise the need for surgery to rule out cancer.
“We are now continuing to evaluate the test and are performing a large-scale study of samples.”
Prof Karin Sundfeldt, from the University of Gothenburg, said: “We need to develop more accurate pre-surgery diagnostics.
“To detect one cancer, we operate on up to five women – yet this is currently the best option when abnormalities are detected by ultrasound and cancer is suspected.
“There is a great need for a simple blood test that could identify women who do not need surgery.”
Around 7,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK each year, with 4,227 deaths.
Alexandra Holden, from charity Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “Early detection of ovarian cancer is the holy grail.
WHO IS MOST AT RISK OF OVARIAN CANCER
A number of things can increase your risk from ovarian cancer, including:
- Age – Women older than 50 have a greater risk
- Family history – If ovarian or breast cancer runs in the family you could have inherited genes that make you more at risk
- Weight – If you are overweight you may be more susceptible
- Conditions – If you have endometriosis, where tissue that behaves like the lining of the womb grows outside the womb area, this can increase your chance. If you have had hormone replacement therapy (HRT), there is a very small chance this can increase your risk.
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“Research into new biomarkers shows great promise and we look forward to a future where more women are diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.
“If borne out by future research, this would represent a major breakthrough.”
The findings are published in the journal Communications Biology.
