Researchers are developing a 'breakthrough' test that can predict a woman's risk of developing four types of cancer. For diagnosis, a simple sample taken during cervical screening would be needed.
Ovarian cancer is responsible for the largest proportion of deaths associated with gynecological cancers. Currently, in 75% of cases , this disease is diagnosed at a late stage, when the tumors have spread too much. Being able to detect this cancer earlier could therefore improve treatment outcomes.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. In France, it is also the leading cause of cancer death in the same sample. The disease is usually detected by means of a mammogram followed by a biopsy. However, the situation could soon change.
According to two articles published in the journal Nature Communications, in a few years, the analysis of endocervical cells (which line the cervix) from a routine smear could indeed allow the detection of ovarian and breast cancers at an early stage or to predict their probability of development. Such an approach could thus improve the chances of survival.
In recent work, a team led by Martin Widschwendter of the University of Innsbruck analyzed endocervical cell samples from 242 women with cancer of the ovary and 869 women without cancer. The researchers then measured 14,000 epigenetic changes and identified a unique DNA signature that could be used to predict the presence of ovarian cancer. Using this data, the researchers were then able to identify 71.4% of women under 50 and 54.5% of women over 50 with ovarian cancer with a specificity of 75%.
In a second study, researchers analyzed epigenetic changes in endocervical cell samples from 329 women with breast cancer with a poor prognosis and of 869 women without cancer. Again, researchers were able to identify women with cancer based on their epigenetic signature in more than 75% of cases . These results were then confirmed in a smaller set of samples.
"To create a new screening tool for the four most common cancers that affect women, especially those that are currently the most difficult to detect at an early stage, from a single test could be revolutionary “, points out to the Guardian Athena Lamnisos, managing director of Eve Appeal, which funds research with the European Research Council.
Further results are also expected on the ability of this same test to predict cancer of the uterus and cervix.
In the future, this type of approach could revolutionize screening and allow a more personalized approach to cancer prevention and detection. After analyzing their samples, women could obtain distinct risk scores for each of the four cancers. Those with high scores might then be offered more active surveillance, regular mammograms, or risk reduction surgery.
