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【medical-news】[b]新方法检测血液DNA诊断前列腺癌
[b][center]New Blood Test Uses DNA To Diagnose Prostate Cancer[center][b]
Scientists at St George's, University of London, are working on a blood test that uses DNA markers to identify prostate cancer cells that are shed into the bloodstream.
The researchers have demonstrated that by measuring the levels of these markers, not only can an accurate diagnosis of cancer be made, but the stage the cancer has reached whether it is still localized or already has spread and become metastatic can be identified.
In addition, certain markers, if switched on, will hopefully give information on how quickly the cancer will develop, and, therefore, when treatment must be introduced.
The current, most widely used method of detecting prostate cancer is the serum Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, which is only 50 per cent accurate. Increased levels of PSA are elevated in non-malignant conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis and even urinary tract infections. This new test, which is able to detect one prostate cancer cell among a sample of 100 million blood cells, is 95 per cent accurate.
Because of its inaccuracy, most elevated serum PSA results are followed up. This is done using a core needle biopsy. Samples of tissue are removed by inserting a needle through the wall of the rectum into the prostate gland. When pulled out, the needles remove a cylinder of tissue, usually about 1/2-inch long and 1/16-inch across. Up to 12 needles are normally used to ensure the prostate is thoroughly sampled.
After this invasive procedure, tissue samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis, often taking a week or so for results to be confirmed.
Owing to a high serum PSA, some men will invariably have a biopsy in which the result will been negative for prostate cancer. It is hoped that the new test, with its increased accuracy, will encourage men who suspect they have prostate problems to seek medical attention early on, enabling early treatment and leading, hopefully, to less men having prostate biopsies.
The research has been partly funded by Prostate Research Campaign UK. Brigadier John Anderson, Chief Executive of the charity says: "Many men fear seeking medical help, even when they suspect they have prostate problems, for fear that the diagnosis will involve painful and undignified tests. This simple, speedy, non-invasive test means patients need not fear traumatic tests to diagnose prostate cancer. And receiving an accurate diagnosis within days rather than weeks could mean they are treated more quickly and stand a greater chance of total recovery."
The research has also been funded by the Everard and Mina Goodman Charitable Foundation.
The test is currently at the stage of validation, with further development regarding standardisation and formatting, and could be introduced on to the market next year.
Prostate cancer is increasingly recognised as a major health problem in the UK, being the most commonly diagnosed solid cancer and the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Around 27,000 new cases are diagnosed in the UK each year and there are around 10,000 deaths from prostate cancer each year around the world. 楼上的战友，我已经翻译过这篇文章了，
早就有人发布了，看来你不常上丁香园。 新方法检测血液DNA诊断前列腺癌
伦敦大学圣乔治医学院的科学家正在进行一项血液研究，根据DNA标志发现脱落在血液中的前列腺癌细胞。
研究者已经证实，通过检测这些标志的水平，不仅能够做出癌症的准确诊断，也能明确癌症的分期：是局限性还是已经发生播散、转移。
另外，如果应用某些标志的话，就有希望对肿瘤的进展速度做出判断，进而采取治疗措施。
当前发现前列腺癌最常用的方法是血清前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）检测，但只有50％的准确性。非恶性肿瘤情况下，如良性前列腺增生、前列腺炎、甚至尿路感染，PSA也会增高。这种新的检测方法能够在1亿个血细胞中检测出1个前列腺癌细胞，准确率达95％。
由于其准确率较差，多数血清PSA增高需要随访观察。通常需要进行针刺活检。通过直肠壁向前列腺内插入活检针，当拔出活检针时，就取出一小块柱形组织，通常为1/2英寸长、1/16英寸宽。一般需要穿刺将近12针以确保前列腺活检充分。
有创性检查后，组织标本被送到实验室进行分析，通常需要一周左右才能确定结果。
由于血清PSA较高，有些人不可避免要进行活检，但结果可能没有发现前列腺癌。新的检测方法由于其准确率增加，有希望对怀疑前列腺疾病的病人早期进行医疗干预，减少进行前列腺活检的病人。
该项研究部分由英国前列腺癌研究计划基金支持。该机构的执行总裁Brigadier John Anderson说：“许多患者担心医疗介入，即使当他们怀疑出现了前列腺方面的问题时。因为他们害怕诊断会包括一些痛苦的和有损尊严的检查。这种简单、快速、非侵入性检查意味着病人不必对诊断前列腺癌的创伤性检查抱有恐惧心理，在很短几天内就能做出准确的诊断，而不再需要几周，这意味着病人可以得到及时的处理，为全面恢复创造了机会。
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作者:admin@医学,生命科学 2011-10-14 17:15
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