Early detection tool for ovarian cancer may aid doctors in timelier diagnosis
The National Health Service (NHS) is considering a new tool, named Ovatools, to help General Practitioners (GPs) identify women with ovarian cancer at an earlier stage. This tool, developed by researchers from Queen Mary University of London, combines a blood test measuring CA125 protein levels with a patient's age to help GPs estimate the risk of ovarian cancer.
Two studies, published in the British Journal of Cancer, assessed the use and cost-effectiveness of Ovatools for the NHS, with funding from Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The studies suggest that Ovatools is cost-effective for NHS use.
Professor Danny McAuley, from the NIHR, believes that Ovatools brings real power into the hands of GPs, enabling them to detect patients at a higher risk of ovarian cancer and get them specialist help sooner. He considers this an important step forward in improving patient outcomes.
Currently, if a GP suspects ovarian cancer, women can be offered a CA125 blood test. However, only those with a certain level of the protein are referred for a scan. Dr Garth Funston, an author of the study, states that Ovatools provides a better indication of a woman's risk of having ovarian cancer by combining CA125 levels and age.
Dr Sarah Cook, from Cancer Research UK, agrees, stating that risk stratification tools like Ovatools offer valuable support to GPs, helping guide clinical decisions. She believes that the tool could be helpful in selecting which women need urgent investigation and referral.
However, further research is needed to understand the impact of Ovatools in real-world settings, according to Dr Cook. The emerging evidence is compelling, she adds.
The researchers argue that the risk of ovarian cancer also varies with age, in addition to blood test levels. The tool, named Ovatools, works well, particularly for women over the age of 50.
In England, 32% of ovarian cancer cases were diagnosed at an advanced stage in 2022. This is concerning as ovarian cancer can be challenging to detect, and last week, an audit in England and Wales revealed that 41% of women were only diagnosed after their symptoms became severe enough to require emergency hospital care.
In Wales, 24% of ovarian cancer cases were only diagnosed when the cancer had spread elsewhere. The National Ovarian Cancer Audit also indicated that a significant number of women with the disease are diagnosed when it has already spread to another part of the body, making treatment more difficult.
If approved for use, Ovatools could potentially reduce the number of advanced stage diagnoses and improve outcomes for women with ovarian cancer.
