Urine Test Diagnoses Early-Stage Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among men worldwide. A major challenge in diagnosing the disease is the absence of reliable biomarkers that can detect early-stage tumors. Now, a study published in Cancer Research reveals that prostate cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage using a simple urine sample.

Researchers from Karolinska Institutet (Stockholm, Sweden), utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and comprehensive analyses of gene activity in prostate tumors, have discovered new biomarkers with high diagnostic accuracy. By analyzing the mRNA activity of all human genes in thousands of individual cells within prostate tumors, and considering the location and degree of cancer in each cell, the researchers were able to develop digital models of prostate cancer. These models were then analyzed with AI to identify proteins that could serve as biomarkers. The identified biomarkers were subsequently tested in the blood, prostate tissue, and urine of nearly 2,000 patients.

Image: Prostate cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage through a simple urine sample (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

The team discovered a set of biomarkers in urine that could accurately indicate both the presence and severity of prostate cancer. According to their findings, these biomarkers outperform PSA, the blood biomarker currently used in clinical practice. The next phase of research involves large-scale clinical trials to further validate these results. More precise biomarkers than PSA could lead to earlier detection and better prognoses for men with prostate cancer. Additionally, they could help reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies in healthy men.

“There are many advantages to measuring biomarkers in urine,” explains principal investigator Mikael Benson, senior researcher at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet. “It’s non-invasive and painless and can potentially be done at home. The sample can then be analyzed using routine methods in clinical labs.”