Prostate cancer is one of the most common oncological diseases in men. Most cases are diagnosed at stages 3-4, including 25% with generalization of the tumor process.
A simple blood test could help recognize a deadly disease in the early stages or identify a potential danger, the researchers said from UK. They studied 80 blood samples from men with prostate cancer and found that there is a link between circulating tumor cells and the most dangerous forms of the disease.
The study notes that the cells of men whose cancer has metastasized or is particularly aggressive contain more free tumor cells.
In the future, testing for these circulating prostate cancer cells may help doctors identify patients with high risk that may require specific treatment.
“Our study shows that the number of these specific cells in a patient's test is a good indicator of the spread of prostate cancer. By identifying these cells, we found a good way to monitor the disease. If we can replicate these studies in large groups of people, we can predict the risk of cancer spreading so that they can start treatment on time, – said Dr. Yong-Ji Lu from the Barts Cancer Institute at Queen Mary University of London, the lead author of the study said:
Prostate cancer can exist as low-grade tumors that can be easily controlled, or dangerous tumors that can grow and spread rapidly. There is currently no easy way to tell which type of cancer a patient has.
The new results were presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool.
— Final the goal would be a blood test that could detect aggressive cancer and determine how best to treat it, but much more research needs to be done before we get there, the study notes.
The causes of prostate cancer are not fully understood.
How does prostate cancer manifest itself?
As a rule, the disease begins to bother when it has already gone too far.
The disease can manifest itself:
- increased urination
- pain in the perineum
- blood in urine and semen.
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