Bladder cancer prognosis is more favorable when caught early. Danish researchers recently presented a study where they used urine from cancer patients to detect mutations common in bladder cancer. The test was shown to detect cancer with 97% sensitivity, better than cystoscopy. The researchers were able to detect mutations in the TERT and FGFR3 genes up to 15 years prior to diagnosis. The test holds potential for use in other cancers, but currently the results for bladder cancer hold the most promise.

Reference(s):

Urine DNA shows potential for early bladder cancer detection, Danish team reports at AMP global. Genomeweb website. https://www.genomeweb.com/cancer/urine-dna-test-shows-potential-early-bladder-cancer-detection-danish-team-reports-amp-global. April 7, 2017. Accessed April 20, 2017.

Andersson, E, Dahmoke, CM, Steven, K, Larsen, LK, & Guldberg, P. Filtration Device for On-Site Collection, Storage, and Shipment of Cells from Urine and Its Application to DNA-based Detection of Bladder Cancer. PLoS One. 2015 Jul 7;10(7):e0131889. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131889. eCollection 2015