New blood test could detect cases of ovarian cancer sooner
Innovative test could change how we diagnose ovarian cancer
- A new tool called Ovatools has been developed to assist GPs in identifying patients at higher risk of ovarian cancer.
- Developed by researchers at Queen Mary University of London, Ovatools combines a woman's age with levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA125) from a blood test to generate a risk score.
- The tool aims to enable earlier diagnosis, as current audits show a significant number of ovarian cancer cases are only detected after the disease has spread.
- Two studies, funded by Cancer Research UK and NIHR, concluded that Ovatools is effective, particularly for women over 50, and would be cost-effective for the NHS.
- Experts believe Ovatools will empower GPs to make more informed referral decisions, leading to earlier specialist intervention and improved outcomes for patients.