Medical Bulletin 05/September/2025

A new study led by the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has revealed that while women in India report more cancer cases, men face a higher risk of dying from the disease. The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, are based on an extensive analysis of data from 43 population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) covering the period between 2015 and 2019.

The study analyzed 708,223 cancer cases and 206,457 cancer-related deaths. It found that over 50% of the cancer incidence occurred in women, compared to 49% in men. However, the mortality rate was significantly higher in males, accounting for 55% of deaths, versus 45% in females.

Researchers reported that among men, the most common cancers were mouth (113,249 cases), lung (74,763), and prostate (49,998). In women, breast cancer topped the list with 238,085 cases, followed by cervical (78,499) and ovarian cancer (48,984). Female genital system cancers contributed to 171,497 cases, while in men, cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx made up 217,327 cases.

“This underscores a need to strengthen the ongoing efforts for cancer prevention and control measures to reduce the burden of cancer in India,” the researchers emphasized.

A significant finding of the study was the rapidly increasing cancer burden in rural areas. Districts in Kerala and Assam—with over 50% rural populations—reported the highest cancer incidence among both women and men.

The northeastern states, including Aizawl, East Khasi Hills, Papumpare, Kamrup Urban, and Mizoram, continued to show the highest incidence rates, with oesophageal cancer being the most prevalent in the region.

Among metro cities, Delhi recorded the highest overall cancer cases at 146 per 100,000 population. Ahmedabad showed a rising trend, with cancer incidence increasing by 4.7% in men and 6.9% in women.

Based on the current trends, researchers estimated India’s cancer incidence for 2024 to be 1,562,099 new cases, with an estimated 874,404 cancer-related deaths. Of these, 781,277 new cases are expected in women and 780,822 in men.

Reference: National Cancer Registry Programme Investigator Group. Cancer Incidence and Mortality Across 43 Cancer Registries in India. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(8):e2527805. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.27805

In a new study, researchers have developed a novel urine-based test to detect prostate cancer. The findings were published in eBioMedicine.

Prostate cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in men, is typically diagnosed through blood-based prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. However, PSA tests lack specificity and often lead to unnecessary biopsies or overtreatment. To overcome these limitations, the research team analyzed urine samples from 341 individuals—including healthy men and patients with prostate cancer before and after prostate-removal surgery. From an initial pool of 815 prostate-specific genes, they identified three biomarkers—TTC3, H4C5, and EPCAM that showed strong diagnostic potential.

These biomarkers were detectable in patients prior to surgery but were nearly absent post-surgery, confirming that they originated in prostate tissue, the study noted.

For the study, investigators extracted RNA from prostate cells shed in 50-ml urine samples. They then analyzed gene expression using RNA sequencing and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Additionally, immunohistochemistry was used to study the biomarkers in both cancerous and adjacent healthy prostate tissues.

The test correctly identified prostate cancer 91% of the time and ruling it out 84% of the time in the validation group. Notably, it maintained diagnostic accuracy in PSA-negative patients and effectively distinguished prostate cancer from benign conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis.

“This new biomarker panel offers a promising, sensitive and specific, noninvasive diagnostic test for prostate cancer,” said senior author Ranjan Perera, Ph.D., from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. “It has the potential to accurately detect prostate cancer, reduce unnecessary biopsies, improve diagnostic accuracy in PSA-negative patients, and serve as the foundation for both laboratory-developed and in vitro diagnostic assays.”

In the performance evaluation phase, the team validated the test on an additional 1,055 urine samples, reinforcing its diagnostic potential.

Reference:https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2025/09/johns-hopkins-investigators-create-new-urine-based-test-to-id-prostatecancers#:~:text=By%20analyzing%20urine%20samples%20from,the%20presence%20of%20prostate%20cancer.