UEA launch project to better detect prostate cancer in black men
The project is the first of its kind and will see researchers combine DNA testing with AI to create the new test
Researchers at the University of East Anglia are developing a new genetic blood test specifically for prostate cancer in black men.
They are twice as likely to develop and die of the disease than white men.
The project is the first of its kind and will see researchers combine DNA testing with AI to create the new test – thanks to funding from Prostate Cancer Research.
It will also look for specific genetic imprints in the blood of black patients and compare them to their white counterparts along with another group who don't have the cancer.
Our researcher's previous research has shown that prostate cancer tumours leave a genetic imprint on blood cells, which can be detected using a PCR technique, much like a Covid test.
Those who are part of the study hope this technology could be used to screen for prostate cancer among black men and better diagnose other racial groups with a wide range of cancers.
"Getting an early diagnosis allows better treatment"
Lead researcher Prof Dmitry Pshezhetskiy, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said:
“In the UK there is a racial disparity in prostate cancer, where black patients are twice as likely to develop the disease and die of it than white men.
“Recent research shows that this staggering racial difference for prostate cancer diagnosis and mortality is due to genetic differences, but their exact nature is currently not known.
“We want to create a fundamentally new, highly accurate genetic blood test for prostate cancer in black men, taking into account their genetic diversity.
“Developing tailored genetic testing is really important because getting an early diagnosis allows better treatment.
The five-year survival rate for men diagnosed with stage one prostate cancer is 100 per cent, compared with only 50 per cent for those with stage four cancer.”
"These tests could be performed in most hospitals and are rapid, minimally invasive"
Prof Elena Kulinskaya, from UEA’s School of Computing Sciences, said:
“We will use new technology that combines DNA testing with machine learning algorithms.
“These tests could be performed in most hospitals and are rapid, minimally invasive, accurate and cost-effective, so they could be used for cancer screening – leading to early identification of patients that would be otherwise missed,
“We hope that the advent of such tests will provide significant opportunities to tackle racial disparity in cancer diagnosis and treatment across other cancers and racial groups,”
"We see real potential in this targeted genetic test"
This project has been made possible thanks to a grant from Prostate Cancer Research.
Prostate Cancer Research has committed to funding at least three rounds of targeted projects which will explore solutions to the racial disparity within prostate cancer.
It's part of a broader health inequities programme which also focuses on health literacy and data.
Dr Naomi Elster, Director of Research at Prostate Cancer Research, said:
“This important work led by Prof Pshezhetskiy is not only advancing our technology, it’s making sure that the most cutting-edge technology takes diversity into account so that it will work for everyone.
“There is a real need for a new way to diagnose prostate cancer, as the PSA blood test we currently use is not as accurate as we want, rectal exams are invasive and people understandably are not comfortable with them.
Imaging techniques such as MRI require specialist equipment that may not always be available. We see real potential in this targeted genetic test.”