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divdiv class=story-body readability=45 span class=story-date#13; span class=date4 November 2013/span#13;span class=time-textLast updated at /spanspan class=time19:00 ET/span#13; #13;/span#13;#13; #13;#13;#13; #13; #13; span class=byline span class=byline-nameBy James Gallagher/span span class=byline-titleHealth and science reporter, BBC News/span /span #13; #13; p class=introduction id=story_continues_1A prostate cancer test, which predicts how aggressive a tumour is, could spare men unnecessary operations, researchers suggest. /p#13; pEarly data, a href=http://conference.ncri.org.uk/abstracts/2013/abstracts/LB4.htmpresented at the National Cancer Research Institute conference/a, suggests a genetic test can tell apart aggressive and slow-growing tumours./p#13; pA big challenge in treating the cancer is knowing whether surgery to remove the gland is needed./p#13; pCancer charities said a successful test would be a game-changer. /p#13; pProstate cancer is the most common male cancer in the UK. There are more than 40,000 new cases diagnosed and 10,000 deaths each year./p#13; span class=cross-headTough choice/span#13; pThe decision to remove the prostate is based on an examination of a tumour sample under the microscope. /p#13; pHowever, the procedure has significant side-effects such as infertility, difficulty maintaining and keeping an erection and uncontrolled urinating./p#13; div class=story-feature narrow#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_2Continue reading the main story/a h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13;blockquote readability=2p class=first-childWe need to validate it and we're not there yet, but it is the strongest test we've had so far”/p/blockquote#13;span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditProf Dan Berney/span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleQueen Mary University of London/span#13;#13; /div p id=story_continues_2One of the researchers, Prof Dan Berney, from Queen Mary University of London, told the BBC: We need a better test as we are over-treating many men; most will die with, not of, prostate cancer./p#13; pWe need to discriminate between the aggressive forms and those that will grumble along and just need monitoring./p#13; pThe commercial test, developed by Myriad Genetics but independently assessed by Queen Mary University of London, looks at the activity level of genes inside a sample of the tumour./p#13; pIf 31 genes involved in controlling how cells divide are highly active, it indicates the cancer is aggressive./p#13; pProf Berney said such information could substantially change decisions made by doctors and patients but the costs were huge and it was certainly not going to be offered on the NHS in the next few years. /p#13; pWe need to validate it and we're not there yet, but it is the strongest test we've had so far, he added./p#13; span class=cross-head'Intriguing' /span#13; pDr Iain Frame, director of research at Prostate Cancer UK, said: Developing an effective test to distinguish aggressive from non-aggressive prostate cancer could be a game-changer for those affected by the condition. /p#13; pWe urgently need to reach a point where we can focus resources on saving more of the 10,000 men who lose their lives to this disease every year, whilst sparing the many others who needn't have concerns./p#13; pThe results of this study are certainly intriguing, and take us a step closer to the diagnostic process for prostate cancer that men deserve. We will watch with great interest developments in this area./p#13; pDr Harpal Kumar, the chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: Being able to tell apart aggressive and slow-growing tumours would help us take a major step forward in prostate cancer treatment. /p#13; pUnderstanding more about the nature of a patient's tumour could spare thousands of men from unnecessary treatment and the resulting side-effects, whilst also meaning that those who do need treatment receive it rapidly./p#13; div class=comment-introduction readability=-49#13; p class=introductionHave you been affected by prostate cancer? What is your reaction to this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below./p#13; #13;/div#13; #13; #13; #13; #13; /div/divbrbrcentera href=http://www.wizardrss.comPowered By WizardRSS.com/a | a href=http://www.wizardrss.comFull Text RSS Feed/a | a href=http://www.amazon.com/RFID-Blocking-Cards-Identity-Protector/dp/B00CJHZLEWRFID/a | a href=http://www.wpzonbuilder.comAmazon Affiliate/a/center