Urine test can spot more than nine in 10 bladder cancers

A urine test detected more than nine in 10 bladder cancer cases in an NHS trial, offering a possible way to help prioritize patients facing long waits for cystoscopies.

The Galeas test identified 92% of bladder cancer cases in the trial. A negative result meant there was more than a 99% chance that the patient did not have bladder cancer. The test looks for genetic material shed into urine by tumors, screening for more than 450 DNA mutations linked to bladder cancer across 23 genes.

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very promising early performance

More than 300,000 cystoscopies take place in the United Kingdom each year, and some areas have significant waiting lists. The urine test would not replace cystoscopy, but could help doctors identify people at greater risk and prioritize them for urgent examinations.

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Too many people are waiting longer than they should for a bladder cancer diagnosis, and it's essential that we find ways to tackle this problem.

The University of Birmingham originally developed the test with funding from Cancer Research UK. Nonacus has commercialized it under a licensing agreement that returns part of the revenue to the university and the charity.

Richard Bryan, a study co-author from Birmingham University, called the early results “very promising” after years of development and evaluation. Cancer Research UK chief executive Michelle Mitchell said, “Too many people are waiting longer than they should for a bladder cancer diagnosis,” while stressing that the test remains at an early stage and needs more research. Bladder cancer occurs more often in men over 60, with blood in the urine the main symptom.

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It's early days for this test and further research is needed, but it's vital that we continue to find faster and less invasive ways to help diagnose or rule out cancer.