DUBAI // A blood test that promises to save lives by detecting breast
cancer in its early stages could be available in the UAE within six months.
The newly developed test, which is initially being used with traditional scans
in Britain, can spot signs of the disease three or four times earlier than a
mammogram.
The Norwegian pharmaceuticals company DiaGenic, which created the test, is in
talks to make it available across the Middle East.
Breast cancer is the biggest killer of women in the UAE and accounts for nearly
a quarter of all cancer cases, according to Government figures.
Seventy per cent of cases in the Emirates remain undiagnosed until the later
stages of the disease, compared to 20 per cent in Britain.
“This may well be the sort of test that allows us to reduce mortality from
breast cancer in countries where mammography is not widely available,” said Dr
James Mackay, a genetic oncologist at University College London and a clinical
consultant in trials of the test.
“We hope to be able to introduce it as a service in the Gulf. A significant
percentage of patients are already coming from Gulf states to London for this
test,” he said.
The new procedure would be beneficial for women aged between 30 and 50,
particularly those with a family history of breast cancer, Dr Mackay said.
Younger women typically have denser breasts with a greater mass of the glandular
tissue which secretes milk and shows up as white on X-rays, the same colour as
cancerous tumours, making them more difficult to spot.
As women get older, that tissue is replaced by fat, which shows up as black,
making tumours easier to detect.
Scientists believe the blood test, called BCtect, would clarify any confusion
created by traditional scans by tracing an increase in chemical activity
indicative of breast cancer.
DiaGenic, which spent 10 years developing BCtect, carried out tests over four
years on more than 740 healthy and cancerous women in India, where 75 per cent
of cases are discovered in their later stages and 50 per cent of breast cancer
sufferers die from the condition.
The firm had a 72 per cent success rate in both younger and older Indian women.
By comparison, there was only a 50 per cent accuracy rate when the same group of
younger women were X-rayed.
Mammography is reported to have as much as a 65 per cent overall accuracy rate
in detecting breast cancer, compared to trials of the blood test which showed an
overall detection rate of up to 75 per cent.
“We have developed a test that works in both India and Europe and across age
groups and are now looking at making it more widely available,” said Erik
Christensen, DiaGenic’s chief executive.
“The Gulf in particular is a market where tumours are detected very late and
there is a higher mortality rate than the rest of the world.
“Typically, tumours that are presented are 4cm in size, perhaps because of a
cultural unwillingness to undergo mammograms, hence we are greatly interested in
developing our product in the area. It will greatly impact on the detection of
breast cancer.”
Experts think a reticence to undergo a physical examination because of cultural
sensibilities, coupled with a lack of awareness about the condition and lack of
medical facilities in some rural areas, is preventing women from having regular
screenings.
About 20 patients a month currently fly to London from the GCC region for a
Dh2,800 (US$760) mammogram and blood test package at the private London Breast
Clinic in Harley Street, which is piloting the procedure. The test will be
rolled out to other private practices in the UK in the next few weeks.
SRL Diagnostics, a laboratory supplies firm, has a contract to distribute BCtect
in India with an option to supply the Middle East. Scientists hope it will
eventually be possible for blood samples to be taken in the UAE, diagnosed and
then followed up with a telephone consultation with an oncologist or cancer
specialist.
Mammograms are now compulsory for all Emirati women over 40.
Source : Abu Dhabi Media Company
