New Proteomics blood test unlocks better oesophageal cancer detection
The test's accuracy was demonstrated in a 259-person study across three patient groups in Australia and the United States. The results were posted overnight in the peer-reviewed journal Proteomes, providing a major academic rubber stamp for the technology.
The new findings showed that the test could detect a whopping 91.4 out of 100 patients with the heartburn-related cancer and correctly identify 98.9 per cent of people without it, offering a powerful, non-invasive alternative to costly and uncomfortable endoscopies.
Based on the results, PromarkerEso outperforms many tests currently used for screening other types of cancers. For context, the widely used Prostate-Specific Antigen blood test used to diagnose prostate cancer has an Area Under Curve (AUC) measurement of just 0.68, while PromarkerEso hit an exceptional AUC of 0.98. An AUC greater than 0.7 is considered to offer acceptable discrimination, while above 0.9 is considered outstanding.
'The published results represent a major advancement in our mission to transform the lives of people living with chronic acid reflux.'
Proteomics International Laboratories managing director Dr Richard Lipscombe
Described by the company as a landmark moment in non-invasive diagnostics, PromarkerEso uses a standard blood draw to flag at-risk patients using a traffic light system that grades patients at low, moderate and high risk of developing the cancer. The results are delivered with near-laboratory precision and without the need for specialist procedures.
Proteomics says the breakthrough could transform early detection of one of the world's deadliest and most overlooked cancers, which often goes undiagnosed until it's too late.
Specifically, the disease targeted by the test is oesophageal adenocarcinoma, which is often caused by chronic heartburn, or acid reflux, and affects up to 20 per cent of people in Western populations.
Despite the high incidence, current detection methods rely on invasive endoscopy procedures that are uncomfortable and expensive. In the US, an endoscopy costs about US$2750 (A$4200) per procedure. Even with this rigorous scrutiny, up to 90 per cent of cases go undetected.
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