
via health.harvard.edu
A simple urine test under development for prostate cancer detection can now use urine samples collected at home – according to new research from University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Scientists pioneered the test which diagnoses aggressive prostate cancer and predicts whether patients will require treatment up to five years earlier than standard clinical methods.
Their latest study shows how the ‘PUR’ test (Prostate Urine Risk) could be performed on samples collected at home, so men don’t have to come into the clinic to provide a urine sample – or have to undergo an uncomfortable rectal examination.
This is an important step forward, because the first urination of the day provides biomarker levels from the prostate that are much higher and more consistent. And the research team hope that the introduction of the ‘At-Home Collection Kit’ could revolutionise diagnosis of the disease.
Lead researcher Dr Jeremy Clark, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK. It usually develops slowly and the majority of cancers will not require treatment in a man’s lifetime. However, doctors struggle to predict which tumours will become aggressive, making it hard to decide on treatment for many men.
“The most commonly used tests for prostate cancer include blood tests, a physical examination known as a digital rectal examination (DRE), an MRI scan or a biopsy.
“We developed the PUR test, which looks at gene expression in urine samples and provides vital information about whether a cancer is aggressive or ‘low risk’.
“Because the prostate is constantly secreting, the collection of urine from men’s first urination of the day means that the biomarker levels from the prostate are much higher and more consistent, so this is a great improvement.
“Being able to simply provide a urine sample at home and post a sample off for analysis could really revolutionise diagnosis.
“It means that men would not have to undergo a digital rectal examination, so it would be much less stressful and should result in a lot more patients being tested.”
The research team provided 14 participants with an At Home Collection Kit, and instructions. They then compared the results of their home urine samples, taken first thing in the morning, with samples collected after a digital rectal examination.
“We found that the urine samples taken at home showed the biomarkers for prostate cancer much more clearly than after a rectal examination. And feedback from the participants showed that the at home test was preferable.
“Using our At Home test could in future revolutionise how those on ‘active surveillance’ are monitored for disease progression, with men only having to visit the clinic for a positive urine result. This is in contrast to the current situation where men are recalled to the clinic every six to 12 months for painful and expensive biopsies.
“Because the PUR test accurately predicts aggressive prostate cancer, and predicts whether patients will require treatment up to five years earlier than standard clinical methods – it means that a negative test could enable men to only be retested every two to three years, relieving stress to the patient and reducing hospital workload.”
The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital receives more than 800 referrals a year to investigate and treat potential prostate cancers. Prostate cancer usually develops slowly and the majority of cancers will not require treatment in a man’s lifetime.
Robert Mills, Consultant Surgeon in Urology at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: “This is a very exciting development as this test gives us the possibility of differentiating those who do from those who do not have prostate cancer so avoiding putting a lot of men through unnecessary investigations.
“When we do diagnose prostate cancer, the urine test has the potential to differentiate those who need to have treatment from those who do not need treatment, which would be invaluable. These patients go on to an active surveillance programme following the diagnosis which may involve repeat biopsies and MRI scans which is quite intrusive. This urine test has the potential to tell us whether we needed to intervene with these patients.”
The research team say that their findings could also help pioneer the development of home-collection tests for bladder or kidney cancer.
‘Methodology for the At-Home Collection of Urine Samples for Prostate Cancer Detection’ is published in the journal BioTechniques.
Learn more: Home urine test for prostate cancer could revolutionize diagnosis
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Prostate cancer detection
[google_news title=”” keyword=”prostate cancer detection” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Prostate cancer detection
- Former NHL stars promoting men's health and prostate cancer screening and testingon November 30, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Lanny McDonald sports a championship ring he earned after winning the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and remains a fixture in the community. McDonald along with Wendel Clark and Guy ...
- The 6 early signs of prostate cancer all men should know abouton November 30, 2023 at 8:18 am
PROSTATE cancer is one of the biggest killers of men in the UK, with one dying from the disease every 45 minutes. Brookside star Dean Sullivan passed away after being diagnosed with the condition ...
- NHL alumni McDonald, Clark, Carbonneau team up for prostate cancer awareness: 'The big thing is being proactive about your health'on November 30, 2023 at 6:44 am
Get hockey legends Wendel Clark, Guy Carbonneau, and Lanny McDonald talking in the spotlight. The three former NHL stars are l ...
- Inside Dean Sullivan’s prostate cancer battle and moment Brookside’s Jimmy Corkhill actor knew ‘something wasn’t right’on November 30, 2023 at 1:25 am
BROOKSIDE legend Dean Sullivan has urged others to “trust their gut” as he opened up more about his cancer battle. The Jimmy Corkhill actor admitted he left his health “in the ...
- Celebrity-promoted DIY prostate cancer DIY test is 'money down the drain'on November 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
A DIY test for prostate cancer that’s promoted by tv doctors has been accused of doing more harm than good. The £20 urine test strip called IcleTest is being sold with the claim that it can help early ...
- Prostate Cancer: All You Need To Know About Iton November 30, 2023 at 12:33 am
Dr Ganesh Bakshi, Consultant, Uro Oncologist, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mahim explains everything about prostate cancer ...
- Dean Sullivan dies aged 68: Brookside legend beloved for his role as reckless Jimmy Corkhill passes away five years after being diagnosed with prostate canceron November 30, 2023 at 12:10 am
In 2019, Sullivan opened up about his 'shell shock' cancer diagnosis, admitting he never thought he had an issue with his prostate as he wasn't displaying many of the typical symptoms. He told The ...
- BPH-Related False Positive Rate on PSMA-PET for Prostate Cancer Quantifiedon November 29, 2023 at 3:59 pm
are the crucial concerns affecting the imaging diagnosis of [prostate cancer], as well as the feasibility of biopsy-free [radical prostatectomy],” according to Yi Cai, PhD, of the National Clinical ...
- MRIs, MRI-Guided Biopsies Detect Prostate Cancer Affordablyon November 29, 2023 at 11:02 am
Standard biopsies sometimes fail to detect prostate cancer or produce false positives. MRI plus MRI-guided biopsies not only produce more accurate results but carry a fair price tag, researchers said.
- Revolutionising prostate cancer treatment: Government backs cutting-edge researchon November 28, 2023 at 8:53 pm
The government has given $5 million in funding to adapt a form of immunotherapy to treat prostate cancer, a leading cause of death in older men.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Prostate cancer urine test
[google_news title=”” keyword=”prostate cancer urine test” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Prostate cancer urine test
- Former NHL stars promoting men's health and prostate cancer screening and testingon November 30, 2023 at 3:15 pm
Lanny McDonald sports a championship ring he earned after winning the Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames in 1989 and remains a fixture in the community. McDonald along with Wendel Clark and Guy ...
- Celebrity-promoted DIY prostate cancer DIY test is 'money down the drain'on November 30, 2023 at 12:55 am
A DIY test for prostate cancer that’s promoted by tv doctors has been accused of doing more harm than good. The £20 urine test strip called IcleTest is being sold with the claim that it can help early ...
- Prostate Cancer: All You Need To Know About Iton November 30, 2023 at 12:33 am
Dr Ganesh Bakshi, Consultant, Uro Oncologist, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mahim explains everything about prostate cancer ...
- Revolutionising prostate cancer treatment: Government backs cutting-edge researchon November 28, 2023 at 8:53 pm
The government has given $5 million in funding to adapt a form of immunotherapy to treat prostate cancer, a leading cause of death in older men.
- The Red Flag Pain Symptom That Can Be A Sign Of Prostate Canceron November 28, 2023 at 8:33 am
According to Cancer Research UK, prostate cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms in the early stages and most prostate cancers start in the outer part of the prostate gland. This means that to cause ...
- Prostate canceron November 26, 2023 at 4:01 pm
Difficulty passing urine. • Passing urine more frequently ... specific antigen test may help to detect early prostate cancer. The test is not routinely offered in the UK because it is not ...
- GP shares three symptoms of prostate cancer 'common in older men'on November 25, 2023 at 6:00 am
Dr Sanjay Mehta, GP at The London General Practice, advised prostate cancer is a disease we tend to see in older age groups, although there are exceptions, as with any form of cancer.
- Four red flag symptoms of prostate cancer every man should look out for when they peeon November 21, 2023 at 6:48 am
These symptoms are considered red flags for prostate disease, which although more likely to be due to benign disease, could signify prostate cancer.
- The use of PCA3 in the diagnosis of prostate canceron June 30, 2023 at 1:34 am
To improve the specificity of prostate cancer diagnosis ... reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction PCA3 urine test has been translated successfully into the fast and easy transcription ...
- They discover bacteria in the urine that could predict the risk of aggressive prostate canceron April 19, 2022 at 5:00 pm
According to the study, experts analyzed more than 600 patients with and without prostate cancer, to evaluate the usefulness of a bacterial urine test. This allowed them to identify 5 types of ...