World-Leading Prostate Cancer Blood Test Developed In Britain Could “Mitigate Growing Public Health Impact” Of Disease Amongst Asian Men, Says New Study
Summary
• Asian men’s statistically lower risk of prostate cancer is exaggerated by underreporting caused by stigma, according to a study in Cancers. • Cultural hesitancy around MRI scans, rectal examinations and biopsies is contributing to underdiagnosis. • A “transformative” next generation blood test can avoid these invasive procedures and detect prostate cancer more reliably and precisely. • EpiSwitch PSE has superior accuracy and fewer false positives than MRI scans and other commercially available blood tests. • EpiSwitch PSE reduces the false positive rate of the PSA test that the NHS routinely uses from 3 in 4 to less than 1 in 10. • The world leading innovation was seeded at Oxford University and developed with Imperial College NHS Trust. • In the US, it is reimbursed by Medicare; in the UK it is available privately, including from Bupa and at The London Clinic.- Author Name: Mike Wood
WORLD-LEADING PROSTATE CANCER BLOOD TEST DEVELOPED IN BRITAIN COULD “MITIGATE GROWING PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT” OF DISEASE AMONGST ASIAN MEN, SAYS NEW STUDY
Peer reviewed study from Georgetown University Medical Centre finds Oxford Biodynamics’ EpiSwitch® PSE blood test a more ‘reliable and precise’ way to address underdiagnosis of prostate cancer in Asians
While Asian men are statistically less likely to develop prostate cancer than Black, Caucasian, and Hispanic populations, the true prevalence of the disease is masked by underreporting caused by cultural taboos and limited access to innovative diagnostics, according to the study by Ko, et al. in Cancers.
Asia’s low prostate cancer incidence rate has historically been attributed to factors including genetics, lifestyle choices, and dietary habits. Yet this new study identifies the importance of cultural stigma in Asian communities around MRI scans, rectal examinations and biopsies that hinders early detection.
A next-generation blood test produced by British biotech firm Oxford Biodynamics, the EpiSwitch PSE allows men to avoid these invasive procedures, alleviating cultural pressures and reducing stigma and taboos. According to study authors, “EpiSwitch PSE stands out in terms of performance and ease of use [and] represents a transformative step in prostate cancer diagnostics, providing a more reliable and precise method for detecting the disease.”
The EpiSwitch PSE uses a blood sample to accurately differentiate clinically significant prostate cancer from benign conditions, avoiding embarrassment and facilitating timely medical intervention for those at high risk. The British innovation is currently available in the UK, from private providers including Bupa and Goodbody, and the US from payers including Medicare.
The high-impact publication comes weeks after Rishi Sunak, Britain’s first Asian prime minister, visited Oxford Biodynamics and called for a national screening programme for prostate cancer as he revealed a new ambassadorial role to raise awareness of the disease.
Joe Abdo, Vice President of Clinical Diagnostics at Oxford Biodynamics said,
“Cultural stigma around invasive examinations, biopsies and MRI scans contribute to underdiagnosis of prostate cancer in Asia. EpiSwitch PSE overcomes this barrier by using a simple blood sample to accurately diagnose prostate cancer, circumventing emotional and physical embarrassment.
“EpiSwitch PSE offers superior accuracy with fewer false positives compared to both MRI scans and other commercially available blood tests. This enables the test to effectively identify only those patients who truly require further screening and anticancer care, while also delivering economic benefits by preventing unnecessary transrectal biopsies for those without the disease. Additionally, PSE is designed for global deployment, responding to the growing demand for national prostate health screening programs, particularly in Asian countries.”
The incidence of prostate cancer is projected to escalate in Asia due to Westernization of diets and aging male populations. The study states that this rising healthcare challenge can be addressed efficiently using advanced diagnostic tools to enhance early detection with precision.
As well as acknowledging cultural resistance to prostate biopsies, the study notes adverse side effects of this diagnostic method, such as rectal bleeding (45%, American Cancer Society), hematospermia (65.8%, Rosario et 197 al.), incontinence (6.7%, Medical School), and erectile dysfunction (33%, Priority Men’s).
It also points to the limitations of MRI for prostate cancer screening, and in particular its high rate of false positives: the accuracy rate for MRI in detecting prostate cancer can be as low as 49%, with a specificity of 41% and a false positive rate of 49%. EpiSwitch PSE is 94% accurate with a specificity rate of 97% and a false positive rate of just 7%.
The most widely used prostate cancer diagnostic globally is the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, innovated in the 1970s. EpiSwitch PSE reduces the false positive rate of the PSA test from 75% to 7%. Avoiding false positives lowers unnecessary healthcare costs and frees men from the anxiety of a cancer misdiagnosis and the pain and potential side effects of unnecessary biopsies.
About EpiSwitch PSE
EpiSwitch PSE is utilized by primary care providers, urologists, radiation oncologists, and concierge physicians as frontline and serial testing for prostate cancer detection. It has already been used in thousands of patients in the United States, where is it reimbursed by Medicare. A key feature of EpiSwitch PSE is its detection stability, with a shelf life of up to 30 days at ambient temperature. It requires only 2–3 mL of blood without centrifugation or temperature controls, making it easy to deploy and access globally. Such tests would be especially valuable in developing countries and rural areas in Asia, where diagnostic tools and healthcare facilities are often limited.
EpiSwitch PSE leverages five epigenetic biomarkers that target chromatin conformation signatures. Its clinical validation, involving a diverse cohort of 38% Caucasian, 32% Black, 23% Asian, and 7% other participants, enhances its applicability across varied populations. By analyzing whole blood immune cells, the test examines the three-dimensional structure of non-coding DNA within the nucleus, which regulates gene expression. These 3D genomic structures are preserved during cell division and carry vital regulatory and environmental information that reflects an individual’s phenotype. This approach enables the identification of chromatin conformation signatures strongly associated with the presence and progression of prostate cancer. By integrating these biomarkers with PSA data, the PSE test delivers high diagnostic accuracy and specificity, offering insight into both healthy and diseased states.
About Oxford BioDynamics Plc
Oxford BioDynamics Plc (AIM: OBD) is an international biotechnology company, advancing personalized healthcare by developing and commercializing precision clinical diagnostic tests for life-changing diseases.
Currently OBD has two commercially available products: the EpiSwitch® PSE (EpiSwitch Prostate Cancer Detection Test) and EpiSwitch® CiRT (Checkpoint Inhibitor Response Test) blood tests. PSE boosts the predictive accuracy of a PSA test from 55% to 94% when testing the presence or absence of prostate cancer. CiRT is a highly accurate (85%) predictive response test to immuno-oncology checkpoint inhibitor treatments.
The tests are based on OBD's proprietary 3D genomic biomarker platform, EpiSwitch® which enables screening, evaluation, validation and monitoring of biomarkers to diagnose patients or determine how individuals might respond to a disease or treatment.
OBD's clinical smart tests have the potential to be used across a broader range of indications, and new tests are being developed in the areas of oncology, neurology, inflammation, hepatology and animal health.
The Group's headquarters and UK laboratories are in Oxford, UK. Its US operations and clinical laboratory are in Maryland, USA, along with a reference laboratory in Penang, Malaysia.
OBD is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM (LSE: OBD). For more information, please visit the Company's website, www.oxfordbiodynamics.com, X (@OxBioDynamics) or LinkedIn.
