New blood test finds early risk for ovarian cancer
PFE•Researchers found that blood levels of the RNA molecule Tu-Stroma identified precancerous ovarian lesions in 92.3% of affected women and correctly identified 98.2% of healthy women. The article also reports trial results for a pre-surgical bladder cancer treatment and research on coffee and digestion.
1. Blood test detects precursor
Researchers found that women with serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma, a precursor condition that can precede ovarian cancer, had elevated blood levels of the RNA molecule Tu-Stroma. The test detected the condition in 92.3% of affected women and correctly identified 98.2% of healthy women. For women with genetic risk factors, approximately 72% of positive results would be accurate, while negative results would be correct nearly 100% of the time, the researchers reported.
2. Bladder cancer treatment
In a trial of nearly 700 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, those treated with AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi and Padcev from Astellas Pharma and Pfizer before surgery, followed by immunotherapy, had a 42% lower risk of death than patients who underwent surgery alone. About 45% of patients receiving the two-drug regimen had no detectable cancer in tissue removed during surgery, compared with about 10% of the surgery-only group. At two years, 78% of the treated patients were alive, versus 69% of those who had surgery alone.
3. Coffee and digestion
A study of 61 people found that frequent coffee drinkers had more colon contractions and lower small-intestine pH than less frequent drinkers. Researchers said the study cannot prove that coffee caused the differences and do not yet know whether the lower pH is beneficial or harmful.
