A groundbreaking urine test for prostate cancer screening has shown remarkable accuracy in identifying aggressive forms of the disease, potentially revolutionizing early detection and treatment strategies. The test, known as MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2), analyzes 18 genes associated with prostate cancer and has demonstrated superior performance compared to existing biomarker tests.
Key Findings
The MPS2 test correctly identified 95% of cancers diagnosed as grade group 2 or higher upon biopsy, which are more likely to grow quickly and require treatment. Additionally, there was a 99% chance that individuals with a negative MPS2 result did not have aggressive prostate cancer, characterized as grade group 3 or higher.
Advantages Over Current Methods
Traditional prostate cancer screening methods, such as PSA (prostate-specific antigen) testing and biopsies, have been known to lead to unnecessary procedures and over diagnosis of low-grade cancers. The MPS2 test offers several advantages:
- Non-invasive: Unlike biopsies, the test only requires a urine sample.
- Highly accurate: It outperforms other validated prostate cancer biomarker tests.
- Reduces unnecessary biopsies: The test could have allowed patients with elevated PSA to avoid 34%-53% of unnecessary biopsies.
At-Home Testing Potential
Recent research has shown that the MPS2 test maintains its high accuracy even when performed on urine samples collected without a digital rectal exam. This development opens up the possibility of at-home testing, which could significantly increase access to screening for patients undergoing telehealth care or living in remote areas.
Impact on Patient Care
Dr. Jeffrey Tosoian, assistant professor of Urology and director of Translational Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized the test’s importance:
“The test is highly accurate for ruling out the presence of clinically significant prostate cancers — those that merit treatment — so that patients with a negative test result can confidently avoid having to undergo MRI or biopsy”.
– Dr. Jeffrey Tosoian
Future Directions
Researchers are now exploring the use of MPS2 in patients undergoing active surveillance for low-grade prostate cancer. If proven to be similarly accurate in this setting, the test could eliminate or reduce the need for prostate biopsies during active surveillance, enabling reliable non-invasive monitoring of low-grade cancers. This innovative urine test represents a significant step forward in prostate cancer diagnostics, offering a less invasive, more accurate method for identifying high-risk cases while potentially sparing many men from unnecessary procedures. As further studies validate its effectiveness, the MPS2 test could become a valuable tool in the fight against prostate cancer, improving patient care and outcomes.
