Largest pathology lab commercialises local innovation in prostate cancer

MedTech & Diagnostics News: The largest diagnostic pathology company in the US, Quest Diagnostics, has teamed up with Australian diagnostics organisation, Envision Sciences, to launch a novel prostate cancer biomarker test. This cutting-edge technology comes as a result of a collaboration led by University of South Australia (UniSA), revealing three new biomarkers that could revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer remains a formidable threat, claiming the lives of over 300,000 men worldwide each year. But now, hope is on the horizon, thanks to the efforts of a team of researchers from the UniSA and the partnership between Quest Diagnostics and Envision Sciences.

UniSA scientists, under the leadership of Professor Doug Brooks, have identified three new biomarkers for prostate cancer, offering an unprecedented level of accuracy in identifying and distinguishing aggressive cases of the disease.

“It is anticipated this will lead to long-term improvements in the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and graded,” said Professor Brooks.

“The biomarkers are remarkably sensitive and specific in accurately visualising the progress of the cancer and confirming its grade. This discovery has led to the commercial development of a test designed to determine how advanced and aggressive the cancer is and whether immediate treatment is needed,” he added.

This breakthrough couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. Recent data from a Quest Diagnostics Health Trends study has revealed that diagnoses of prostate and breast cancer have significantly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many cases undiagnosed. The innovative prostate biomarker test aims to address this alarming trend and help fill the clinical gap, ensuring that patients receive timely and accurate staging, diagnosis, and treatment.

The potential impact of this test is enormous, given that over one million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer worldwide each year. By providing clinicians with a reliable tool to differentiate between patients who require immediate, aggressive treatment and those who can be closely monitored, lives could be saved and unnecessary treatments avoided.

UniSA Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise, Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO, hailed the partnership between UniSA and Envision Sciences as a life-saving development in cancer research. Envision Sciences funded the technology’s development and translation at UniSA, making this breakthrough possible.

“This technology represents a shift in the way clinicians can grade and predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer,” said Professor Hughes-Warrington. “We look forward to seeing the difference it makes in coming years.”

Kristie Dolan, Vice President and General Manager of Quest Diagnostics Oncology Franchise, emphasised the service’s potential to improve the accuracy of grading prostate cancer biopsies and positively impact the lives of millions of men facing this disease.

“Our goal for this innovative prostate biomarker test is to improve the accuracy of grading prostate cancer biopsies,” said Ms Dolan. “We expect this service to help fill a clinical gap affecting millions of men for staging, diagnosis, and treatment for prostate cancer. Through our relationship with Envision, we are excited to broaden access to this innovative technology. With Quest’s national scale and industry-leading prostate cancer portfolio, we will be able to reach a larger number of patients and provide them with diagnostic insights to inform their treatment decisions.”

It is expected that clinical trials using the innovative diagnostic technology will be undertaken in Australia.

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