PATIENTS in the North-East will soon be the first in the world to benefit from a revolutionary new test for prostate cancer, which could save many lives.

Within weeks, a diagnostic test developed by scientists at Durham University will be tried out on hospital patients in the region.

If all goes well, the breakthrough test, which involves shining a light through a fluid sample taken from the male prostate gland, could be available in UK hospitals within 18 months to two years.

It could dramatically reduce the time it takes to diagnose prostate cancer, a disease which kills about 10,000 men every year in the UK.

Faster diagnosis of prostate cancer increases the chances of successful treatment and survival.

Preliminary research suggests that the test – developed by Professor David Parker – is highly accurate in confirming the presence of a substance linked to prostate cancer.

It also provides results within minutes.

The new approach is potentially far superior to the existing diagnostic test widely used in hospitals around the world.

The existing test, which involves taking a blood sample and checking for raised levels of a biomarker known as PSA, is only about 30 per cent accurate and takes up to two weeks to get results back.

The new test involves producing a sophisticated chemical compound and mixing it with a small sample of fluid taken from the prostate gland.

By shining a light through this mixture, it is possible to check whether a high concentration of a substance called citrate is present. If there is a high concentration, it confirms the patient has prostate cancer.

Kishor Mistry, chief executive officer with FScan, the Durham City-based company formed to develop the breakthrough, said: “We have got a lot of urologists excited about this test.”

Mr Mistry said clinical trials at an undisclosed North- East NHS hospital should begin within weeks.

The progress of the North- East clinical trial will be closely monitored by a US company that has expressed a strong interest in becoming partners.

While FScan received £100,000 investment from the Three Pillars Fund earlier this year – recently topped up by a £78,000 grant from One North East – its small team needs more investment to speed up development of the new test.

“We are actively looking for an investment partner,” said Mr Mistry.

FScan recently picked up a Business for Life Award for innovation from Newcastle Science City.