Annual blood test could potentially reduce the number of ovarian cancer deaths by 20 per cent, a new study suggests. The finding comes from a 14-year research on 200,000 women from across the UK, considered as world's largest screening test for ovarian cancer.

Researchers from the by University College London found that for every 10,000 women who actively take blood tests for about seven to 11 years, at least 15 lives could be saved. The study, published in the journal Lancet, has been considered a landmark moment in cancer screening.

However, some experts said further studies are still needed to call for mass screening for ovarian cancer due to concerns about the analysis. However, the researchers believe the screening has the potential to help reduce the number of women dying from the lethal disease.

In the study, the team measured the changing levels of a blood protein called CA125, which is associated to ovarian cancer. Elevated levels of CA125 could lead women to undergo further tests or in some cases, a surgery.

The researchers, however, admitted the interpretation is "controversial." Initial statistical analysis of data for the study indicated screening has delivered no benefit to the patients, but when the data from any women, already at risk to develop ovarian tumours, were removed, benefits appeared.

The researchers then conducted further statistical analysis, which also showed a benefit. The UCL team are following the patients for another three years to confirm the benefit from screening.

"Is there clear evidence? I would say no,” lead researcher Professor Usha Menon, from UCL, told the BBC. "We don't have clear evidence to go ahead with screening, but what we have are really encouraging estimates of around a 20 percent reduction, which we need to confirm."

Moreover, the study is still "a landmark step in devising effective screening for ovarian cancer, which is often portrayed as the silent killer," said Dr Adam Shaw, the clinical lead for cancer genetics at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. However, he added that further works are still needed to support the "very encouraging" findings.

Some experts consider that it is still uncertain if screening can reduce ovarian cancer deaths. "While this is an important step in ovarian cancer research, we would not recommend a national screening programme at this point," said Dr Fiona Reddington, from Cancer Research UK.

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