Urine Test Beats PSA in Prostate Cancer Detection

By combining digital tumor models with AI, researchers pinpointed proteins that accurately indicate both the presence and severity of cancer. Because urine tests are non-invasive, they could enable painless, at-home diagnostics in the future. Upcoming large-scale clinical trials aim to improve early detection and reduce unnecessary biopsies for men globally.

Early Detection Hurdles: The Search for Reliable Prostate Cancer Biomarkers

Prostate cancer ranks among the top causes of death in men globally, yet early diagnosis remains difficult due to the absence of reliable biomarkers for detecting initial tumor development.

In a study released today (April 28) in Cancer Research, scientists from Karolinska Institutet (Sweden), Imperial College London (UK), and Xiyuan Hospital at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (Beijing, China) report the discovery of a highly accurate set of biomarkers for prostate cancer.

Mapping Cancer at the Cellular Level: Uncovering Tumor Complexity Through mRNA Analysis

The researchers examined mRNA activity for all human genes across thousands of individual cells from prostate tumors. This allowed them to create detailed digital maps showing both the location and severity of the cancer in each cell.

They then applied artificial intelligence to these models to pinpoint proteins that could act as biomarkers. Their discoveries were confirmed through the analysis of blood, prostate tissue, and urine samples from nearly 2,000 patients.

Urine-Based Biomarkers Outperform PSA in Detecting Prostate Cancer

The team discovered a group of urine-based biomarkers that could detect both the presence and severity of prostate cancer with remarkable accuracy—exceeding the performance of PSA, the commonly used blood biomarker in current medical practice.

“Urine testing offers several benefits,” says lead researcher Mikael Benson, senior scientist at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology at Karolinska Institutet. “It’s non-invasive, painless, and could potentially be done at home, with samples easily analyzed using standard clinical lab techniques.”

Next Steps: Large-Scale Clinical Trials to Test New Prostate Cancer Biomarkers

Large-scale clinical trials are in development as the next step in this research. One such trial is under discussion with Professor Rakesh Heer of Imperial College London, a co-author of the study and lead of TRANSFORM, the UK’s national prostate cancer initiative, which supports rapid testing of new biomarkers.

“More accurate biomarkers than PSA could enable earlier diagnosis and improve outcomes for men with prostate cancer,” notes Dr. Mikael Benson. “They may also help avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies in men without the disease.”

The study received major funding from the Swedish Cancer Society, Radiumhemmet, and the Swedish Research Council. Mikael Benson is the scientific founder of Mavatar, Inc. No other conflicts of interest were reported.

Read the original article on: Scitech Daily

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