Screening test could "avoid" up to 35 per cent of unnecessary biopsies
Nanostics Inc. has unveiled compelling findings from a groundbreaking clinical study evaluating the efficacy of their ClarityDX Prostate screening test. Published in Nature Digital Medicine, the study heralds a significant leap forward in the realm of prostate cancer detection.
The study, titled “Development of an effective predictive screening tool for prostate cancer using the ClarityDX machine learning platform,” involved a comprehensive evaluation across multiple international centers. It showcased ClarityDX Prostate’s ability to accurately predict the risk of clinically significant prostate cancer, defined as Grade Group 2 and above. Notably, the test integrates advanced machine learning with blood-based biomarkers, offering a nuanced approach to assessing disease risk.
Dr. John Lewis, CEO of Nanostics and Bird Dogs Chair of Translational Oncology at the University of Alberta, underscored the study’s significance: “Now that the results have been published in Nature Digital Medicine, scientists, physicians, and patients can all evaluate the scientific evidence for the performance of ClarityDX Prostate as an adjunctive screening tool for prostate cancer.”
Traditional prostate cancer screening often relies on the PSA test, which, while valuable, can lead to unnecessary biopsies and treatments. The study revealed that ClarityDX Prostate boasts a 95 per cent sensitivity and can potentially avert up to 35 per cent of unnecessary biopsies. This precision is crucial in guiding clinical decisions, enhancing patient outcomes, and optimizing healthcare resources.
Dr. Eric Hyndman, urologist and chief medical officer at Nanostics, commented on the findings: “This study shows that ClarityDX Prostate is accurate at predicting if the patient has grade group 2 and above prostate cancer. Using this as an adjunctive test after PSA screening will give physicians more information to help decide if their patient should undergo a prostate biopsy or not.”
The study was supported by funding from notable entities such as the Alberta Cancer Foundation, Bird Dogs, NRC-IRAP, Alberta Innovates, Ride for Dad and the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation, and Prostate Cancer Canada.
