New test can detect four cancers in one go – years before diagnosis
A REVOLUTIONARY new test which could detect up to four different types of cancer at once has been developed by scientists.
The new test can accurately test for cell changes that could lead to deadly cervical cancer.
It can also pick up DNA markers for some other cancers, meaning it could in future be used as a predictive test for breast, womb, cervical and ovarian cancer.
When tested for cervical cancer, it performed better than currently available methods for detecting those with advanced cell changes who need treatment.
For those without cell changes, but who had human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes most cases of cervical cancer, it detected 55 per cent of people who would have cell changes in the next four years.
For the study, experts looked at DNA methylation, which acts as an extra layer of information on top of DNA.
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DNA contains all the genes people inherit from both their parents, while DNA methylation tells cells which bits of DNA to read.
Factors such as smoking, pollution, poor diet and being overweight can alter these markers and change how the cell behaves.
By looking closely at DNA methylation, scientists think they can detect cancer and possibly predict the risk someone has of developing cancer in the future.
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Previous studies on the new test using cervical samples have suggested accuracy in predicting women with breast or ovarian cancer.
The new study, published in the journal Genome Medicine, included 1,254 cervical screening samples from women with cell changes ranging from lower to high risk, women with HPV but no cervical cell changes, and samples from women without any cervical cell changes who went on to develop high-risk cell changes within four years.
Professor Martin Widschwendter, of University College London, said: "Vaccination against the virus that causes cervical cancer is now widely implemented and is leading to changes in the amount and types of the virus circulating in the community.
"In turn, our approaches to cervical screening must adapt so that programmes continue to deliver benefit.
Cervical cancer myths busted
There's a lot of misinformation about the disease out there and that's putting loads of us at risk.Here, Imogen Pinnell, health information manager at Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, busts open a few of the most common myths.
- HPV is rare: False
HPV is actually really common! In fact, 4 out of 5 people (80 per cent) will have the virus at some point in their lives.
In many cases, our immune systems will get rid of HPV without us ever knowing we had it.
That’s why removing stigma around the virus is so important.
2. Only promiscuous people get HPV: False
You can get HPV the first time you have sexual contact, so it doesn’t matter how many people you’ve had sex with.
The virus can also lie dormant in your body for years – even decades – so you could still have the virus if you’ve been with the same person for a long time.
3. Smear tests are a test for cervical cancer: False
A smear test aims to find changes (abnormalities) to cells in the cervix at an early stage, before they develop into cervical cancer.
So it actually prevents 75 per cent of cervical cancers from ever developing.
4. Smear tests should hurt: False
A smear test should not hurt. For most people, smear tests may be slightly uncomfortable but are not painful.
But we know it’s not always an easy test, so if you do find it painful or have worries, there are things that can help.
Speak to your nurse about ways to make the smear test better for you
5. Only young people get cervical cancer: False
Cervical cancer affects women of all ages, which is why it’s important to attend smear tests when you are invited – attending helps reduce your risk of developing it.
6. If you’ve had the HPV vaccine, you don’t need to attend a smear test: False
If you have had the HPV vaccine, you are protected against at least 70 per cent of cervical cancers.
However, you are not fully protected against all cervical cancers, so going for smear tests when invited is still important.
So, if you're over 25 then make sure that you're up to do with your smear tests.
If you're under 25, try to ensure that you're totally aware of what's going on with your body and seek urgent medical attention if anything from the list above starts to happen.
Remember, doctors have seen and heard it all before - there's absolutely no need to be embarrassed when talking about your gynaecological health.
In fact, doing so might well save your life.
"Importantly, our other work has shown how testing the same cervical sample can also deliver information on a woman's risk of three other major cancers - breast, ovarian and womb cancers.
"Building new, holistic, risk-predictive screening programmes around existing, effective cervical sample collection offers real potential for cancer prevention in the future."
Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of the Eve Appeal charity, said: "It's so welcome to see screening tools and predictive tests becoming more effective.
"We want to prevent cancer - and we know with cervical cancer that we can intervene at an early stage.
"This new method is more specific and doesn't lead to over-treatment which is good news for cervical cancer prevention and great news for everyone who needs to be screened."
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According to Cancer Research UK there are around 3,200 new cases of cervical cancer each year in the UK and around 850 deaths.
Around half of women with the disease survive for 10 years or more.