Urine Tests Could Reveal Early Signs of Cancer and Other Diseases

Early detection is essential for effectively treating diseases such as cancer, yet not everyone has convenient access to screening tools. For issues affecting the genitourinary (GU) tract, which includes the kidneys, prostate, and bladder, healthcare providers typically employ a combination of screening methods, including blood tests, imaging, and physical examinations. Researchers are now developing an even simpler tool for early disease screening—urine analysis.

A new study by a team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA; Arlington, TX, USA), has shown that analyzing RNA (a type of genetic material) and other substances present in urine can indicate changes in cell types, potentially revealing early signs of cancer and other diseases. This approach could assist clinicians in identifying issues earlier when they are more easily treatable without requiring invasive procedures. In the study, the researchers collected urine samples from two groups: healthy individuals and those with kidney stones. They extracted two types of RNA from the urine—cell-free RNA, which is suspended freely in the urine, and sediment RNA, derived from solid particles. The RNA types were sequenced and analyzed, comparing samples from healthy individuals with those from patients who had kidney stones.

The findings of the study were published in Clinical Chemistry, a journal of the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM), revealing that advanced urine analyses could identify cellular patterns that indicate the presence of disease. The next phase of the research focuses on employing advanced machine learning techniques to further refine the differences detectable when comparing the RNA and protein signatures of healthy individuals to those diagnosed with diseases. The researchers aim to identify additional biomarkers that could facilitate the development of simpler, less invasive diagnostic methods in the future.

“We’re excited about this new research as it may lead to new, easier screening tools that can help detect diseases of the bladder, kidneys, and prostate,” said Joseph Buonomo, assistant professor of chemistry at UTA and an author of the study. “Although our patient cohort was small, it lays the groundwork for development of a type of ‘non-invasive liquid biopsy’ that will be used to track the progression of ailments like kidney stones, diabetes, and cancer using urine instead of surgical specimens.” 

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