{"id":25731,"date":"2025-04-09T21:08:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T21:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=25731"},"modified":"2025-04-10T15:24:50","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T15:24:50","slug":"saliva-test-may-turn-tide-on-prostate-cancer-claim-scientists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=25731","title":{"rendered":"Saliva test may turn tide on prostate cancer, claim scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-0 haItSe\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-1 cjDa-dM\">18 hours ago<\/p>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new-contributors\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-12 fcCDwR\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-5 evAEAB\">\n<div><span class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-7 kItaYD\">James Gallagher<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 ejjhCR\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/02ca4f40-15f1-11f0-a455-cf1d5f751d2f.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Institute of Cancer Research\/PA Wire Photo shows the aliva test kit, in a plastic tray is what looks like a large plastic syringe tube and other parts, with instructions for how to use it, sitting on a green table.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">Institute of Cancer Research\/PA Wire<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">A saliva test may help &#8220;turn the tide&#8221; on prostate cancer, UK scientists claim. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">It analyses men&#8217;s DNA to work out who was born with the greatest risk of developing the disease. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Targeting them for prostate biopsies and MRI scans discovered some aggressive cancers that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">However, the test has not yet been proven to save lives and experts say it will be  &#8220;years&#8221; before such tests could be used routinely. <!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Around 12,000 men in the UK die from prostate cancer every year. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Calls for the routine testing of healthy men &#8211; known as screening &#8211; have grown louder since Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy announced he had terminal prostate cancer.   <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Screening has been rejected in the past because using the current test &#8211; which looks for levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood &#8211; <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/view-health-screening-recommendations.service.gov.uk\/prostate-cancer\/\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">risks causing more harm than good<!-- --><\/a>. <!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">This saliva test does not look for signs of prostate cancer inside the body. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Instead it looks for 130 mutations in men&#8217;s DNA, each of which can increase the risk of prostate cancers developing.  <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">In the study, scientists tested men aged 55-69 and calculated their risk. Men in the top 10% of scores were invited for further investigations. This included a biopsy and an MRI scan. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed:<!-- --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-5c9c90b0-0 ggNdZQ\">\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">Out of 745 men with a high score, 468 were prepared to have the extra tests<!-- --><\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">187 were found to have prostate cancer<!-- --><\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">103 were higher risk tumours that needed treatment, 74 of these would not have been discovered at this stage with current tests  <!-- --><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;With this test, it could be possible to turn the tide on prostate cancer,&#8221; said Prof Ros Eeles, from the Institute of Cancer Research, London. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;We can identify men at risk of aggressive cancers who need further tests and spare the men who are at lower risk from unnecessary treatments,&#8221; she added<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 DkKTF\">&#8216;Two lives saved&#8217;<!-- --><\/h2>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/c4048680-1560-11f0-8b33-1b3fa22562ab.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Dheeresh Turnbull Two men in lime green t-shirts and matching baseball caps\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">Dheeresh Turnbull<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Dheeresh Turnbull, who is 71 and from Brighton, took part in the trial. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">He discovered he was in the highest risk category despite having no family history of prostate cancer. Further examination showed he had cancer. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;I was completely shocked, I would never have been diagnosed at this stage if I hadn&#8217;t joined the trial.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">His younger brother was then invited to take part in the study and also discovered he had an aggressive tumour. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;It&#8217;s incredible to think that because of this study two lives have now been saved in my family,&#8221; Dheeresh said.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 DkKTF\">&#8216;Still a long road&#8217;<!-- --><\/h2>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">However, the test is not ready to be rolled out. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Prof Dusko Ilic, from King&#8217;s College London, said it was &#8220;promising&#8221; but improved cancer detection &#8220;only modestly&#8221; when used alongside current risk factors such as age, PSA levels and MRI scans. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">And he said there was still &#8220;no direct evidence&#8221; of it improving survival or quality of life, which meant more studies were needed.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The research also focused people of European ancestry and work is still under way to adapt it for people from other backgrounds. Black men are thought to have <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/prostatecanceruk.org\/prostate-information-and-support\/risk-and-symptoms\/black-men-and-prostate-cancer\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">double the risk of prostate cancer<!-- --><\/a>. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The research team also say there are questions around cost-effectiveness, potential harms and the best time to analyse the risk.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The saliva test will become part of the <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/prostatecanceruk.org\/research\/transform-trial\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">pivotal Transform trial<!-- --><\/a> which is trying to discover the best way of introducing prostate cancer screening in the UK. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Prof Michael Inouye, from the University of Cambridge, said he believes we will look back on this study &#8220;as a landmark&#8221; that made the case for using genetics to assess risk.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">But he added: &#8220;This is a big step along the path to clinical implementation, but it is still a long road.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">He said it will &#8220;likely be years&#8221; before the NHS used such a test. <!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 gfTVSf\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/94dc\/live\/7d2b6730-15d1-11f0-a455-cf1d5f751d2f.png.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to <!-- --><a target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/newsletters\/zhp28xs\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">start the day.<!-- --><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>18 hours ago<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24693,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25731","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25731","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25731"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25731\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25736,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25731\/revisions\/25736"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25731"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25731"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25731"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}