Blood test targets advanced prostate cancer drug treatment

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men in the UK, with over 46,000 diagnosed with the disease each year.

A blood test has been developed to identify which advanced patients would benefit from a new drug treatment.

The test, which identifies cancer DNA in the blood, enables doctors to check whether precision drugs are working although, as the drug is a targeted treatment, it does not work for everyone.

Cancer Research UK have said that the test could “greatly improve survival”.  However, the charity added that studies involving more patients need to take place to confirm the test’s reliability.

The clinical trial of the drug (Olaparib) involved collecting blood samples from 49 men with advanced prostate cancer.

Scientists from the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research said that the test could result in improved targeting of treatment and a reduction in side effects.

Consultant medical oncologist Professor Johann de Bono, who was involved in the studies, said “From these findings, we were able to develop a powerful, three-in-one test that could in future be used to help doctors select treatment, check whether it is working and monitor the cancer in the longer term.

“Not only could the test have a major impact on treatment of prostate cancer, but it could also be adapted to open up the possibility of precision medicine to patients with other types of cancer.”

Cancer Research UK’s senior science information officer Dr Aine McCarthy, said “The test has the potential to greatly improve survival for the disease by ensuring patients get the right treatment for them at the right time and that they aren’t being given a treatment that’s no longer working.

“Further studies involving a larger group of men will confirm if doctors should use this test when treating patients with advanced prostate cancer.”

Prostate Cancer UK’s Dr Matthew Hobbs, said “The results from this study and others like it are crucial as they give an important understanding of the factors that drive certain prostate cancers, or make them vulnerable to specific treatments.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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