Breast cancer, endometriosis and PCOS detection tests seen as ‘game-changing’

"Game-changing" tests are in development that could revolutionize the early detection of critical women’s health conditions, including breast cancer, endometriosis, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Researchers at Aberystwyth University, with significant backing from the Welsh government’s £75m investment in women’s health research, are spearheading this initiative, aiming to bring groundbreaking diagnostic tools from the laboratory to everyday use.

Professor Luis Mur, a key figure in the research, revealed that within the next year, the team anticipates having a working prototype for a lateral flow test capable of detecting early-stage breast cancer through a simple urine sample. This innovative approach identifies specific, crucial changes in urine that can indicate the presence of breast cancer, and potentially even its stage, with a high degree of accuracy. "We’ve found very important changes in urine to tell you’ve got breast cancer, and even [which] stage of breast cancer," Professor Mur stated, highlighting the potential for non-invasive, accessible screening. The vision is to create "little kits that are based on urine that actually allow you to go to your GP and have it done, or even do it at home."

Building on the success of the breast cancer detection research, the same methodology is now being applied to develop a similar test for endometriosis and PCOS. These conditions, often characterized by lengthy diagnostic delays and inadequate diagnostic tools, stand to benefit immensely from such advancements. "Diagnoses are very poor and also very delayed" for these conditions, Professor Mur noted, underscoring the urgent need for more effective detection methods.

The development of these lateral flow prototypes is projected to take approximately 18 months, followed by a further three to five years of rigorous testing to ensure accuracy. Professor Mur emphasized the stringent accuracy requirements, stating, "We need to have 90% accuracy or greater, at the moment we’ve got it, but we need to make sure we get that with the kit itself." This commitment to high accuracy is paramount to ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of the tests in clinical practice.

The Welsh government’s substantial investment, part of its comprehensive 10-year women’s health plan published in December 2024, is crucial for accelerating the translation of research findings into tangible benefits for patients. Dr. Helen Munro, clinical lead for women’s health in Wales, expressed optimism about this funding’s impact. "One of the goals of the Women’s Health Research Centre was to bring research findings like that taking place at Aberystwyth University, to clinical practice ‘in a timely way’," she explained. She highlighted the historical challenge of research translation, noting that "Currently there’s evidence to suggest it takes 17 years for evidence to get into practice." However, the collaborative approach in Wales, involving close partnerships between academic institutions and health boards, aims to dramatically shorten this gap.

Complementing these diagnostic advancements, the Welsh women’s health plan also focuses on establishing accessible women’s health hubs across all health boards. By the end of this month, each health board is expected to have at least one hub serving its community, though the structure and services offered will vary. Dr. Munro clarified that while the hubs will have diverse implementations, they are all mandated to address three core priority areas: menopause care, contraception, and pelvic health.

In west and mid Wales, the Hywel Dda health board has taken a proactive approach by dividing its region into seven GP clusters, each designated to host a women’s health service. This initiative involves upskilling GPs within these clusters to provide specialized menopause and contraceptive care, and to manage referrals from other surgeries. This strategy aims to bring expert care closer to women’s homes, reducing the need for long-distance travel and lengthy waits. Dana Scott, leading the women’s health plan for Hywel Dda, stated, "We’re aiming to see a reduction in referrals into secondary care, with women referred into the hub in a timelier fashion."

Dr. Lauren Thomas, a sexual health doctor involved in training GPs in more remote areas, detailed the expansion of services. GPs are being trained to perform procedures such as fitting coils and contraceptive implants, and ultrasound biopsies will become available in each county. "As a GP I see women wait months and months and months to see gynae [specialists] because obviously the secondary care service has to prioritise suspected cancer cases," Dr. Thomas observed. She further elaborated on the impact of delays for conditions like endometriosis, stating, "Women are left with pelvic pain or [with] endometriosis waiting a long time for discussions, investigations and treatments that they could access in a community-based clinic, and hopefully we’ll be able to bring that to women moving forward."

Sarah Murphy MS, the minister responsible for women’s health, acknowledged that each health board is "starting from different places" in implementing the women’s health plan. She emphasized the ongoing efforts to "fill in the gaps, breaking down the barriers for each of those locations and communities." The plan includes a commitment to ongoing evaluation and the dissemination of best practices across Wales, ensuring that successful initiatives are shared and adopted throughout the country. This multi-faceted approach, combining advanced diagnostic research with improved access to care through dedicated health hubs, signifies a significant step forward in addressing the specific health needs of women in Wales.