Slovak scientists have come up with a new method for the early detection of prostate cancer. It is based on a method of tracking so-called glycans on the surface of proteins. The test gives quick results and reduces the number of false positives. Boris Kollárik, chief of urology at Bratislava's Bory Hospital, welcomes the new method, which he says is revolutionising the early and accurate detection of prostate cancer.
"Instead of having to undergo a painful biopsy in all men with suspicions, as was the case until now, today a single non-invasive blood test can safely distinguish benign prostate enlargement from oncological disease. It will therefore determine which men actually need a biopsy and which do not," he added.
"We use modern nanotechnology in the form of magnetic particles to monitor changes in glycans in the blood serum test,” said the chief technology officer and co-founder of the Glycanostics company Tomas Bertok.
He explained that this method using biomarkers can identify cancer with extreme accuracy in the early stages of the disease, even if it cannot yet be detected by other imaging methods.
According to the Glycanostics company, the test has undergone clinical validation on more than 500 samples from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany. It is currently available for Slovak patients in a direct-pay mode.
"Men can undergo it through selected urology clinics, with an increase in availability expected by the end of 2023," the company explained. The company plans to launch the test in Germany in the fourth quarter of this year, once it has received CE marking and started mass production at a contract manufacturer. "In 2024, we plan to obtain the FDA certification required to market the test in the US, as well as the gradual launch of the test in other EU countries. However, this will probably already be in collaboration with a multinational pharma/diagnostic company, with which we plan to sign a licensing agreement or a strategic collaboration agreement," she said, adding that they had already started discussions last year with several companies that had expressed interest.
According to the company, the technology can also be used for screening ten other types of cancer, namely breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian, bladder, colon, liver, stomach, thyroid and testicular. "These days we are completing the clinical validation of the diagnostic test for breast cancer on more than 700 samples from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and the UK. We expect to be able to bring this blood test to patients in Slovakia by the end of this year," she added. The company is also beginning work to develop and clinically validate the test for lung and pancreatic cancer. "Once this work is completed, we will be working on developing tests for other cancers," she concluded.
Source: TASR
