Urine-Based Test Detects Aggressive Prostate Cancer

Traditional methods for prostate cancer screening involve blood tests, MRI, and biopsies. However, some of these procedures can be uncomfortable, and they sometimes lead to overdiagnosis of low-grade cancers. Researchers have now clinically validated a previously developed urine test that could potentially replace these invasive methods for men who are unlikely to benefit from them.

Prostate cancer is typically categorized by its Gleason Grade or Grade Group. Cancers graded as Gleason 3+4=7 or Grade Group 2 and higher are more likely to grow and cause harm, in contrast to Gleason 6 or Grade Group 1 cancers, which are considered non-aggressive. The urine test, known as MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2), analyzes 18 genes associated with high-grade prostate cancer. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) previously demonstrated that this test could effectively identify Grade Group 2 or higher cancers, helping men avoid unnecessary biopsies. However, in that initial study, urine samples were collected after a digital rectal examination, a process that involves prostate compression and releases cellular debris into the urine sample, making it uncomfortable for the patient.

Image: The urine-based test to detect high grade prostate cancer looks at 18 genes (Photo courtesy of Justine Ross/Michigan Medicine)

In the new study, published in The Journal of Urology, the research team modified the urine collection method so that MPS2 could detect prostate cancer markers without the need for a rectal exam. Using urine samples from 266 men who did not undergo a rectal exam, they found that the test could detect 94% of Grade Group 2 or higher cancers, offering greater sensitivity than blood tests. Additionally, the team used mathematical models to demonstrate that MPS2 could have prevented up to 53% of unnecessary biopsies. These findings suggest that MPS2 holds potential as an at-home test, offering an easy, non-invasive method for predicting the likelihood of aggressive prostate cancer, giving both patients and physicians peace of mind. The test is also more affordable than an MRI, helping patients save on healthcare costs. The researchers plan to repeat the study and validate their results with a larger and more diverse group of men. They also aim to explore the test’s use for surveillance in men with low-risk prostate cancer.

“MPS2 could potentially improve the health of our patients by avoiding overdiagnosis and overtreatment and allowing us to focus on those who are most likely to have aggressive cancers,” said Ganesh S. Palapattu, M.D., a professor of urology.

Related Links:
U-M Rogel Cancer Center