Overview

• Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research and The NHS Foundation Trust developed a spit test using a polygenic risk score based on 130 genetic variants to assess prostate cancer risk.
• The trial demonstrated the test’s ability to detect aggressive cancers missed by PSA blood tests and MRI scans while reducing false positives.
• Among 6,300 men screened, 12% were identified as high risk and underwent further diagnostics, leading to the detection of 187 prostate cancer cases, including 74 that would have been missed by current methods.
• The test has already shown life-saving potential, with two brothers discovering aggressive tumors after being classified as high risk through the study.
• A new trial is underway to compare the spit test directly with PSA and MRI diagnostics, aiming to evaluate its scalability and effectiveness across diverse ethnic groups.