An Australian-developed process that accurately identifies prostate cancer in low-risk patients "at point zero" could revolutionise detection.
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The process, developed by University of South Australia researcher Jessica Logan, has been fully validated and implemented into clinical practice in the US.
The aim is to further develop the technology and establish the service for Australian men.
Dr Logan's research on men identified as low-risk prostate cancer patients could improve methods to maximise early intervention and therapy selection.
Thirty-five per cent of low-risk patients require treatment in the first two years and 59 per cent require intervention within five years.
The current standard in clinical assessment of prostate cancer is subjective grading of tissue sections - known as a Gleason Score - leading to poorer treatment choices and disease progression in low-risk patients.
The research by Dr Logan and her team at UniSA found an altered cellular pathway in prostate cancer enabled the identification of precise biomarkers for primary disease progression.
"By accurately detecting the disease, we can identify patients at point zero, alleviating anxiety for both patients and their families," she said.
"We understand that early detection is key to improving outcomes."
Dr Logan has been awarded a funding grant from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) as part of a $1.2 million initiative to advance cutting-edge research.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among men.
PCFA chief of mission Jeff Dunn said it was hoped the grants would accelerate discoveries.
"We are continually looking for new ways to effectively prevent, detect, treat, and eliminate prostate cancer through research," Professor Dunn said.
Australian Associated Press
