It is always very exciting for health care professionals and many patients when a new diagnostic test is announced as with the recent publicity heralding the ‘Spit Test’ for diagnosing cancer of the prostate. Currently, prostate cancer is the most common cancer without a screening programme. This means too many men in the UK are being diagnosed with advanced, incurable prostate cancer. However, these tests are often not immediately available as they are publicised on the basis of early results discussed at a professional research conference.

Professor Ros Eeles, lead researcher in the spit test trial said – “This simple, cheap test has been shown in early studies to identify men of higher risk due to their genetic makeup and catch their cancer early. Building on decades of research into the genetic markers of prostate cancer, this study shows that the theory does work in practice – it can identify men at risk of aggressive cancers who need further tests, and spare the men who are at lower risk from unnecessary treatments. The next step will be to test the genetic markers we have identified that are associated with a risk of prostate cancer in diverse populations, to ensure this test can benefit all men. Researchers are currently comparing the saliva test to other potential screening options, as part of a trial, to assess the most cost-effective and accurate way to screen men for prostate cancer.” 

The current research brings us one step closer to an effective screening test for prostatic cancer but it will be some time before it is at a stage to be rolled out for routine use.