UCLH First NHS Trust Offers Ovarian Cancer Surveillance Test for High-Risk Women

The University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) has become the first NHS trust in England to offer an ovarian cancer surveillance test known as the risk of ovarian cancer algorithm (Roca) to women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, which significantly increase their risk of ovarian and breast cancer. This new screening method involves monitoring blood levels of the protein cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) over time, along with other factors such as age and menopausal status, and has been shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of late-stage ovarian cancer diagnosis. The initiative offers an alternative to preventive surgery, which currently involves removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes but results in early menopause and infertility for pre-menopausal women. Professor Adam Rosenthal highlighted that women face a difficult choice between undergoing preventive surgery and its consequences or delaying it, which carries the risk of developing cancer. The Roca test enables earlier and more personalized detection, potentially catching cancers when smaller and less advanced, allowing women to make more informed decisions about their treatment options. Other NHS hospitals are expected to adopt this surveillance program following UCLH's lead.