Breakthrough in the treatment of prostate cancer

The researchers have developed a method that allows thousands of men with prostate cancer to choose their own treatment. The new tool could help patients determine their likelihood of survival over the next 10 to 15 years and the best treatment to improve their chances of survival.

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At present, only one-third of prostate cancer patients have a low risk of death. For these patients, surgery or radiation therapy would have little effect on their chances of survival.

The new method is a computer questionnaire. Under the supervision of the doctor, the patient can complete the questionnaire in a few minutes. It would then provide the probabilities of death due to cancer or other diseases for the patient in the next 10 to 15 years.

In addition, a graph would reveal the patient's chances of survival after treatment. The questionnaire called the PREDICT questionnaire on the prostate and the results of its study and design were published in the latest issue of the journal. PLOS.

The study entitled "Individual prognosis at the time of diagnosis in non-metastatic prostate cancer: development and external validation of the PREDICT gene". Prostate multivariate model, "

The questionnaire, consisting of 10 questions, uses data on the stage of cancer, the age of individuals and the results of medical tests. The results also inform patients of the risk of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. In addition to surgery or radiation therapy, patients can choose "active surveillance" in which cancer is closely monitored.

We believe this tool could significantly reduce the number of unnecessary – and potentially dangerous – treatments that patients receive, and save the NHS millions of dollars each year.

It's not about rationing treatments, but about empowering patients and their clinicians to make decisions based on better evidence. In some cases, treatment will be the right option, but in many others, patients will want to weigh the benefits of treatment against the risks of side effects. "

Dr. Vincent Gnanapragasam, author

Prostate cancer is diagnosed in more than 47,000 Britons each year and their numbers are increasing (69% by 2030). Men diagnosed with cancer are divided into three groups – low, medium or high risk for prostate cancer. This clbadification is accurate only about 60 to 70%.

According to the researcher, the new test allows the results to be considered with an accuracy of about 84%. They examined more than 10,000 Britons with cancer and 2,546 men from Singapore.

To our knowledge, this is the first personalized tool to estimate the overall survival of men after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. We hope that it will provide a more accurate and objective estimate to help men make an informed decision by discussing with their consultant. "

Dr. David Thurtle, Lead Author