Member Article

Durham scientists tackle prostate cancer

North East scientists have been given a major investment to develop a new test for prostate cancer.

The region’s Three Pillars Fund is injecting £100,000 into Durham University’s FScan Ltd to advance the development of a rapid test for prostate cancer, which is responsible for the deaths of almost 10,000 men in the UK each year.

The test, led by Professor David Parker, works by shining a light through a fluid sample from the prostate gland to determine citrate levels, which signals prostate cancer.

It could provide a basis for a speedier means of detecting the disease and, according to the FScan team, be more reliable than the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test.

Kishor Mistry, CEO of FScan, said: “Citrate is an important biomarker for the disease and the technique could form the basis of a simple screening programme for one of the biggest male killers.

“Our test is more selective for prostate cancer compared to PSA, it could be carried out in three minutes allowing doctors to begin treatment quickly.”

Initial tests have been successful and the company hopes to carry out tests on larger samples and attract finance bankers to role the product out on a commercial scale.

Amanda McMurray, Three Pillars Fund Manager, said: “The technique could transform the diagnosis of prostate cancer by making it possible to identify the disease it its treatable stages.

“It’s exciting that this technology is being pioneered here in the North East and I’m delighted the Fund will develop it even further.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .