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New breast cancer test to predict spread of the disease
The test works by identifying the presence of two proteins in cells of the original cancer
A new breast cancer test, which may be able to accurately predict those at risk of their cancer spreading, is to be trialled in the UK.
The test, which will be trialled at the University of Bradford’s Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, could mean those at low risk could avoid undergoing follow-on treatment as well as potentially save the NHS millions of pounds a year.
In pilot studies, the test has proved 98 per cent accurate in predicting which patients are at low risk of their cancer spreading or returning, referred to as metastasis, after their initial treatment.
Now, a trial funded by Innovate UK is being conducted to test whether Ran Diagnostics works in practice.
Professor Chris Twelves, clinical director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, University of Bradford, who is leading the study, said: “When people are first diagnosed with breast cancer, their oncologist will want to discuss whether they may benefit from extra drug treatment to reduce the risk of the cancer returning and spreading.
“One of the ways we do that now is through a genetic test on the cancer, but that test is expensive and can be slow.
“If, as we hope, Ran Diagnostics is as good at identifying who may benefit from such extra treatment, it will be quicker and less expensive, helping us to better personalise cancer treatment for our patients.”
Dr Mohammad Isreb, associate professor in medicine development at the University of Bradford, said: “The Ran Diagnostics test has the potential to accurately predict the likelihood of someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer developing metastasis in the future more quickly and economically than current tests.
“It may help indicate who may benefit from extra treatment, and those at low risk, who may be able to be spared extra treatment and avoid its painful and unpleasant side effects.”
The test is designed for people with the most common type of breast cancer – hormone receptor positive, HER2, receptor negative. It works by identifying the presence of two proteins in cells of the original cancer, Ran GTPAse (Ran) and MMP-2.
In laboratory tests of 181 tumour samples from patients diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1990s and whose medical histories are known, the Ran Diagnostics test showed 98 per cent accuracy.
Dr Mohammad Isreb, associate professor in medicine development at the University of Bradford and Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, director of the Institute for Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Bradford
Dr Jason Jones, commercial manager, faculty of life sciences, University of Bradford, said: “We measured levels of the two biomarkers in those samples then we looked at their medical histories to see which ones later developed metastatic disease.
“There is a clear correlation between high levels of Ran and MMP-2 and patient outcomes. Tests showed 98 per cent of patients with low levels did not go on to develop secondary cancer and therefore may have been spared chemotherapy. We have not seen anything with such a strong relationship as this before.”
The trial will be conducted in collaboration with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and the University of Leeds.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally. Metastatic breast cancer – also known as secondary or stage four breast cancer – can be treated but not cured.
The NHS has committed to improving cancer care in its Long Term Plan and NICE recommends tumour profiling for some people with breast cancer to guide clinicians and patients decisions on the best treatment for patients.
Ran Diagnostics could be carried out within a hospital’s own pathology lab, with results potentially available within hours.
The team has been awarded an £897,000 Innovate Biomedical Catalyst grant to test a further 600 samples with known tumour profiling results to see if Ran Diagnostics gives equivalent results.
Ran Diagnostics will comprise of two elements: the physical testing kit used to stain the biomarkers along with AI-enabled software to analyse the data.
The grant also includes funding for Carmen Diagnostic Technologies Ltd, a spin-out company of the University of Bradford that owns the Intellectual Property (IP), to develop Ran Diagnostics into a commercial product. If the new test is successful, Carmen Diagnostic Technologies could have the product available to use in clinic within two to three years.
Professor Krzysztof Poterlowicz, director of research for computational and data-driven science at the University of Bradford and co-investigator in the project, commented: “This groundbreaking project provides a unique opportunity to leverage the latest advancements in AI and data science to develop software that optimises the results of the Ran Diagnostics test.”
Everard Mascarenhas, director of Carmen Diagnostics Technology, based in Southport, Merseyside, said: “Ran Diagnostics utilises equipment and pathology expertise that already exists in the hospital and can be adopted very quickly in hospitals around the world.
“Furthermore, as the cancer tumours can be tested by the hospital, unlike genetic tests where samples have to be transported internationally, Ran Diagnostics is closely aligned to helping the NHS achieve its net zero climate change objectives.”
He added: “A further limitation of existing genetic tests is that they only work for around 70 per cent of breast cancers.
“The science behind Ran Diagnostics means it can work for all breast cancer. In the future, there is the potential for a similar test to be used on other forms of breast cancer as well as other cancers.”
Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, director of the Institute for Cancer Therapeutics at the University of Bradford, said: “Our mission at the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics is developing smarter and personalised ways to diagnose, predict and treat cancer.
“Ran Diagnostics is an important step towards achieving our aspirations by providing a cost-effective, rapid and potentially point-of care test that informs more personalised cancer treatments that help reducing the risk of the cancer coming back or spreading to other parts of the body.”
Pregnancy complications may increase women’s risk of peripheral artery disease later in life, new research suggests.
The study analysed data from more than two million women in Sweden who gave birth to single babies between 1973 and 2015.
Led by Casey Crump, the research examined the long-term risk of peripheral artery disease among women who experienced preterm delivery, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes or other adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Crump, professor in the department of family and community medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, said: “Our prior work has already shown that adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with long-term risks of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.
“This study builds on that work by showing that these women have an increased risk of peripheral artery disease, an important but understudied cardiovascular condition.”
Peripheral artery disease is often a precursor to long-term cardiovascular complications, including stroke, ischaemic heart disease and premature death.
The condition affects millions of people worldwide and occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow, most commonly to the legs and feet.
Ischaemic heart disease occurs when the heart does not receive enough blood and oxygen, usually because the arteries have narrowed.
Symptoms of peripheral artery disease can include leg pain, cramps while walking, numbness, cold feet and sores on the feet or legs that are slow to heal.
Crump said women who experience pregnancy complications have an important opportunity after giving birth to make plans with their primary care doctor to monitor long-term risks.
Women who have experienced complicated pregnancies should speak with their doctor about possible future cardiovascular health risks.
Checks for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol are important.
While the period after childbirth is an important time for women to monitor their health, Crump said it is never too late to lower the risk of peripheral artery disease.
He said: “Women with a history of adverse pregnancy outcomes who seem to be doing well may still have a higher risk that can emerge later in life.”
Crump also suggested preventive steps such as avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and following a healthy lifestyle.
He stressed the importance of long-term follow-up care and conversations with healthcare providers to help protect cardiovascular health later in life.
Women with PMOS may have a fourfold higher risk of heart disease, new research suggests.
PMOS, or polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, is a complex hormone condition affecting about one in eight women in the UK.
It can affect hair growth, periods, fertility and mood.
US researchers analysed health insurance data collected between 2000 and 2022 from 413,450 women with PMOS aged 18 to 50.
They compared the group with more than two million women who did not have the condition.
The study found that women with PMOS had a fourfold higher risk of heart disease than those without it.
The increased risk remained after researchers accounted for other factors linked to heart disease, including high blood pressure and diabetes.
International PMOS guidelines recommend screening all patients for heart disease risk at diagnosis and providing advice on lifestyle changes.
However, researchers said patient surveys “report delayed diagnosis and substantial dissatisfaction with counselling regarding long-term comorbidities”.
Comorbidities are additional health conditions that occur alongside a main condition.
Researchers added: “Our results emphasise the need for physician education and patient awareness of cardiovascular disease risk to improve implementation of early preventive interventions.”
The team called for further studies following women through menopause, when periods stop.
They also called for research into whether treatments such as GLP-1 drugs or hormonal contraception affect the link between PMOS and heart disease.
GLP-1 drugs are medicines used for conditions including type 2 diabetes and weight management.
The main symptoms of PMOS include irregular periods or long gaps between periods, excessive hair growth or hair loss, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, and difficulty becoming pregnant.
Other symptoms include depression or anxiety, oily skin and acne, tiredness, and thick, dark patches of skin on the neck or armpits, known as acanthosis nigricans.
Until recently, PMOS was known as polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS.
Experts called for the name change after highlighting that misunderstandings about cysts and too much focus on the ovaries were delaying diagnoses.
Earlier this month, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said women with PMOS should be seen by health professionals annually to monitor symptoms and manage long-term risks.
NICE said the condition affects between three and four million women in the UK but is “frequently underdiagnosed and inconsistently managed”.
A market analysis made by Moore Financial Consulting estimates the global market for Zero Candida Technologies, Inc. (TSXV: ZCT) (OTCQB: ZCTFF) (FSE: 9L2) (the “Company” or “ZCT”), a FemTech medical device company advancing next-generation solutions for women’s health, will reach over USD 2 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.25 per cent globally and 3.9 per cent in North America and 4.2 per cent in Europe.
The analysis emphasis that up to 75 per cent of women will have at least one vaginal yeast infection in their life.
Moreover, recurrent VVC (Vulvovaginal Candidiasis) affects nearly 8 per cent of women globally (for women above the ages of 15-60).
According to the data, 100 per cent of women with Recurrent VVC will purchase a combination of over-the-counter and prescription antifungal treatments, usually with the common use of oral agents.
Compared to women with non-recurrent VCC, 55.2 per cent will purchase prescription antifungal treatment, 37 per cent over-the-counter antifungal, 5.6 per cent will purchase a combination of both treatments, and the rest will not purchase any treatment.
Eli Ben Haroosh, founder & CEO, Zero Candida Technologies, said: “Moore’s market analysis matches our estimations, Zero Candida is a groundbreaking and game-changing company in the world of women’s medicine, and we look forward to be one of the leading companies offering AI-driven, tampon-like device, helping women suffering from VVC .
Zero Candida announced recently that its shares are now successfully listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE).
This listing marks a significant milestone for the Company as it expands its global presence, now cross-listed on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the FSE, providing increased visibility and access to a broader pool of international investors.
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