EpiSwitch® PSE is an advanced blood test for prostate cancer detection that has class-leading accuracy at 94%.
why episwitch pse?
PSA is the standard first-line assessment for prostate cancer, and while this is a good place to start, it is not the most accurate test and only indicates that something may be wrong with the prostate. PSA alone cannot confirm prostate cancer. With 3 out of 4 men with a raised PSA not having prostate cancer, and 1 in 7 men with a normal PSA having prostate cancer, there is a need for a more precise test.
The EpiSwitch PSE is a simple blood test that uses five validated epigenomic biomarkers alongside PSA results to assess a patient's likelihood of prostate cancer. With 94% accuracy, it categorizes patients into low likelihood (no biopsy needed) or high likelihood (biopsy recommended). This test provides accurate diagnoses for 19 out of 20 men and could spare 75% of men from unnecessary procedures or treatments and the anxiety that comes with them.
what are epigenomic biomarkers?
Your DNA is arranged into chromosomes within each cell of your body. It is folded in a highly specific pattern which allows cells to function properly. Therefore, changes to this folding – also called epigenomic changes – can alter the way the genes are expressed and how the cell functions.
Epigenomic changes sometimes occur early on in cells which increase the likelihood of it becoming a tumour cell. These changes may be some of the first changes to occur, before the cells have formed a tumour which is visible on a scan, or before your PSA rises. Therefore, understanding the 3D genomic structure of DNA is key to understanding the risk of prostate cancer.
how does episwitch pse work?
EpiSwitch PSE analyses 5 epigenomic biomarkers in the blood and combines this information with your PSA. The result is an actionable, binary result of HIGH LIKELIHOOD or LOW LIKELIHOOD of prostate cancer. The report also includes indications for the doctor to determine who should proceed to biopsy and who can be placed on active surveillance. Therefore, it minimises false positives and unnecessary procedures, while detecting prostate cancers before symptoms or raised PSA are present.
The results are extremely reliable - EpiSwitch PSE has demonstrated best-in-class performance, as shown in the PROSTAGRAM clinical trial results published in the medical journal Cancers with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. EpiSwitch PSE achieved 94% accuracy, 93% positive predictive value (PPV), and 97% specificity. In comparison, other tests such as the PSA have ~55% accuracy and less than 45% PPV and specificity, often resulting in 1.5 to 2 times more false positives than true positives. EpiSwitch PSE provides precise detection of prostate cancer, accurately identifying its presence or absence, regardless of whether symptoms are present.
To view a sample results report, click here.
how accurate is it?
Studies of men invited for screening showed that EpiSwitch PSE has:
94% accuracy
97% specificity
86% sensitivity
93% positive predictive value (the likelihood that a person with a positive result does have cancer)
95% negative predictive value (the likelihood that a person with a negative result does not have cancer)
Source: † Pchejetski et al. (2023). Circulating CCS Significantly Enhance PSA PPV and Overall Accuracy for Prostate Cancer Detection. Cancers, 15(3), 821. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers15030821
In comparison, a PSA test alone is only around 55% accurate.
who can use episwitch pse?
Anyone screening for prostate cancer
Anyone with a previous PSA test with any result
Before or after MRI
For a second opinion before prostate biopsy or before treatment
After treatment for surveillance (>4 weeks after)
EpiSwitch PSE streamlines the diagnostic process for healthcare providers by offering flexibility and ease of use. The test only requires less than 2 mL of whole blood stored and shipped at room temperature. It can be administered to patients with any PSA level and any age. The test can be conducted before or after a digital rectal exam (DRE) and remains effective regardless of whether a patient is on BPH medication or has recently undergone BPH treatment.
how can i book an episwitch PSE test?
Please contact us below and we will put you in touch with a clinic near you to have the blood draw for EpiSwitch PSE. The results will be reviewed by a GP and reported back to you.
To view the patient brochure, click here.
To view the one page overview, click here.
To read the FAQs at Oxford BioDynamics’s website, click here.
