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
- Footy and TV star Clint Bizzell shattered by prostate cancer diagnosison May 10, 2024 at 9:24 pm
The Geelong and Melbourne Demons veteran - who is married to ex-Channel Seven star Jennifer Adams - used Instagram to reveal his prostate cancer diagnosis and remind Aussie blokes that it can happen ...
- DoD grant awarded for investigating alternative polyadenylation in prostate canceron May 10, 2024 at 8:53 pm
A team led by Dr. Eddie Imada, assistant professor of research in pathology and laboratory medicine, has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million United States Department of Defense grant for research ...
- The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is funding the research into cancer’s financial burdenon May 10, 2024 at 12:09 pm
The financial burden of prostate cancer for Tasmanian men and their families will be highlighted by new research funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia ...
- Ask Amy: Should I share my cancer diagnosis?on May 10, 2024 at 4:22 am
and supportive discussion boards for men with prostate cancer. (Check csn.cancer.org.) In addition to reviewing your treatment options with other men who are going through this, they can communicate ...
- Ask Amy: Man doesn’t want cancer to define himon May 10, 2024 at 4:11 am
Dear Amy: I’m a 57-year-old man. I was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. I am obviously not overjoyed, but I am totally accepting of this news. Living with — not dying of — cancer means ...
- Ask Amy: I don’t want to keep my cancer diagnosis a secret, but it should not define meon May 10, 2024 at 3:44 am
Dear Amy: I’m a 57-year-old man. I was recently diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. I am obviously not overjoyed, but I am totally accepting of this news. Living with – not dying of – cancer means ...
- Ask Amy: I’m torn between sharing or keeping my Stage 4 cancer diagnosison May 10, 2024 at 12:01 am
and supportive discussion boards for men with prostate cancer. (Check csn.cancer.org.) In addition to reviewing your treatment options with other men who are going through this, they can communicate ...
- Plant-Based Diets Tied With Lower Prostate Cancer Progression Risk, Better QOLon May 9, 2024 at 4:59 pm
The median time from prostate cancer diagnosis to FFQ completion was 31.3 months. Patients had a median age of 65 years, and 95% were White. Within 6.5 years of FFQ completion, 190 progression events ...
- “Here’s How I Knew I Had Prostate Cancer”: One Patient’s Story of Abruptly Elevated Markerson May 8, 2024 at 12:41 pm
With family history of prostate cancer, one gentleman's screening for good measure led to important hints...then a diagnosis.
- NEWS CENTER Maine anchor Lee Goldberg marks milestone in prostate cancer journey with PSA about PSAson May 8, 2024 at 9:25 am
NEWS CENTER Maine's Morning Report anchor Lee Goldberg is reminding everyone with a prostate to get regular PSA tests.
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
- Prostate Cancer Breakthrough: Urine Test Avoids Unnecessary Biopsieson April 28, 2024 at 9:57 pm
A study in JAMA Oncology reveals that MyProstateScore 2.0, a new urine test analyzing 18 genes, surpasses PSA in detecting significant prostate cancers and could reduce unnecessary biopsies by up to ...
- Breakthrough urine test could help men avoid unnecessary prostate biopsieson April 26, 2024 at 9:35 pm
A new urine test for prostate cancer detection is showing promise. The current standard test, the Prostate Specific Antigen, PSA, isn't very accurate at distinguishing between aggressive and ...
- New Urine Test for Prostate Cancer May Help Reduce Unnecessary Biopsieson April 21, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A prostate cancer biomarker test that utilizes 17 genetic ... which can be screened for accurately using a urine test. Experts say the test can help doctors identify serious cancers while also ...
- Urine test may determine prostate cancers' level of aggressionon April 19, 2024 at 12:14 am
When prostate cancer strikes, one question is paramount ... but researchers say they've developed a urine test that could do the job instead. The test, called MyProstateScore2.0 (MPS2), was ...
- Urine Test Detects High-Grade Prostate Canceron April 18, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have developed a new urine-based test that addresses a major problem in prostate cancer: how to separate the slow growing form of ...
- Urine Test Accurately Detected High-Grade Prostate Canceron April 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Opens in a new tab or window A new 18-gene urine test demonstrated higher diagnostic accuracy for high-grade prostate cancer compared with existing biomarker tests, a study showed. In applying a ...
- New urine-based test detects high-grade prostate cancer, helping men avoid unnecessary biopsieson April 17, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The test, called MyProstateScore2.0, or MPS2, looks at 18 different genes linked to high-grade prostate cancer. In multiple tests using urine and tissue samples from men with prostate cancer, it ...