A new DNA test developed by Canadian researchers can help identify if prostate cancer will recur to men who have once survived the disease. This new test is expected to develop proper care procedures of cancer survivors.
Prof. Robert Bristow, a cancer specialist from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Dr. Paul Boutros from the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research, collaborated in developing a DNA test that can identify a specific "signature" which can reveal if a patient is at risk of prostate cancer recurrence.
The research team analyzed biopsy samples taken from 126 men who underwent radiotherapy treatment and 150 men who had surgery. The same participants were evaluated after an average of eight years.
They used array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to study the genetic composition of the tumors. They discovered that there is a signature common to those who had recurrence of prostate cancer. They also measured the oxygen content of the tumors and combined the results with the earlier study.
Their findings revealed that those with low genetic changes and low oxygen content on the tumor are 93 percent less likely to suffer from recurrence five years after the treatment. Recurrence risk for those with high genetic changes and high oxygen content, on the other hand, are 50 percent likely to have recurrence.
Researchers believe that this new DNA test is 80 percent accurate.
"This is the first report of a test using this information derived from biopsy samples that can predict with close to 80% accuracy which men are at high or low risk of their prostate cancer recurring," Prof. Bristow said in a press release.
The researchers plan to continue their study on a bigger sample in more hospitals around the world. They believe that their findings can help doctors decide on the type of treatment and proper care that can better help a patient.
This study was presented during the 33rd European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO33) conference held in Vienna in Saturday.
