BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
In an NHS trial of nearly 1,000 patients across seven hospitals in England and Scotland, an at-home urine test detected 92 percent of bladder cancer cases. When the result came back negative, there was better than a 99 percent chance the patient was in the clear.
The test, called Galeas, was developed at the University of Birmingham with funding from Cancer Research UK and has since been licensed to diagnostics company Nonacus. Results were published in European Urology Oncology.
What the test does
Bladder cancer cells shed genetic material into urine as they grow. Galeas scans for that DNA, checking for more than 450 mutations across 23 genes linked to the disease.
The trial enrolled patients who’d already been referred for investigation of possible bladder cancer symptoms. The test isn’t a replacement for cystoscopies. It’s meant to help decide who needs one urgently and who can reasonably wait.
The cystoscopy problem
More than 300,000 cystoscopies are performed in the UK each year, with significant waiting lists in some areas. The procedure involves inserting a small camera up the urethra and into the bladder, and while it remains the definitive method for diagnosis, it’s uncomfortable and takes up real clinical time and resources. A urine test that reliably trims that number would help.
Professor Richard Bryan, co-author of the study from the University of Birmingham, said that after years of developing and evaluating the science, seeing “very promising early performance” in a large real-world patient population was exciting.
Michelle Mitchell from Cancer Research UK said: “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. 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.”
What comes next
A larger trial is the next step. If it goes well, the researchers estimate tens of thousands of patients a year could avoid cystoscopies altogether.
Bladder cancer is more common in men over 60, and blood in the urine is the main symptom. Outlook depends on tumor size and whether it’s spread.
Did this solution stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.
