An important advancement in the fight against female cancer has surfaced, featuring a single test capable of identifying three distinct types of the disease.
Utilizing the current smear test for cervical cancer, this innovative test also investigates for diseases affecting the ovaries and womb.
Scientists in the US are currently developing this test, which is anticipated to be straightforward and relatively inexpensive.
Significantly aiding in the detection of ovarian cancer, often referred to as ‘the silent killer’, this development would represent a remarkable achievement.
In its initial stages, ovarian cancer typically shows no symptoms, and as a result, it is frequently diagnosed too late, with two-thirds of cases proving fatal.
Endometrial cancer, which affects the lining of the womb, is more easily detected, yet it still claims 1,400 lives each year.
This new research expands upon the efficacy of the smear test, which identifies irregularities in cervical cells—the entrance to the womb.
The procedure, lasting just five minutes, is routinely administered every three years for women aged 25 to 49, extending to every five years until the age of 65. Since its introduction, this test has been credited with a 75% reduction in cervical cancer cases.
Researchers analyzed cervical smear test samples, searching for cancerous cells that had detached from the ovaries or the womb and traveled to the cervix.
This approach achieved a 100% success rate in the identification of endometrial cancer while also detecting 40% of ovarian tumors.
Cancers were identified in various stages, both early and late.
Moreover, there were no instances of healthy women being misdiagnosed with cancer. Although the success rate for ovarian cancer detection may appear low, the test could potentially uncover cases that would otherwise remain undetected until later stages.
The researchers noted in the journal Science Translational Medicine that testing for additional genes might yield improved results.
Before the PapGene test is ready for commercial use, more research, including large-scale trials, is necessary. It could take at least a decade for it to become widely accessible. Dr. Shannon Westin, a researcher from the University of Texas, mentioned that in order to effectively screen for all three cancers, smear tests might need to be conducted throughout a woman’s life, rather than only up to age 65.
Gilda Witte, chief executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, expressed, ‘This is very promising news indeed.’
However, she cautioned that the research remains in its infancy, and women should be cognizant of the symptoms of ovarian cancer to ensure early diagnosis.
The primary symptoms include persistent abdominal pain, bloating, difficulties eating or feeling satiated quickly, and an increased need to urinate.
by David Livingstone
