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Each year in the UK, over 300,000 cystoscopy procedures are conducted, yet some regions experience lengthy waiting lists. Although a urine test cannot completely replace cystoscopy, it holds promise in helping clinicians identify patients who are at higher risk and should be prioritized for faster investigations.
An NHS trial evaluated a urine-based test called Galeas, which demonstrated a capability to detect 92% of bladder cancer cases. Patients who receive a negative result from this test have more than a 99% probability of not having bladder cancer. The test operates by examining urine for genetic materials that are released by bladder cancer cells. Developed initially at the University of Birmingham with funding from Cancer Research UK (CRUK), the test analyzes over 450 DNA mutations linked to bladder cancer, spanning 23 different genes.
Professor Richard Bryan, who co-authored the research and is affiliated with Birmingham University, expressed enthusiasm about the results, stating it was “exciting to see very promising early performance” when the test was applied to a large group of patients in real-world conditions. The test has since been commercialized through a licensing agreement with the company Nonacus, which shares a portion of the revenue with the university and CRUK.
Michelle Mitchell from Cancer Research UK highlighted the importance of addressing delays in bladder cancer diagnosis, noting that “too many people are waiting longer than they should.” While she acknowledged that further research is necessary, she emphasized the need to develop quicker and less invasive diagnostic methods to either detect or rule out cancer. Bladder cancer predominantly affects men over 60, with blood in the urine being the primary symptom. The seriousness of the disease depends on tumor size and whether cancer has spread, making early detection and treatment crucial for improving patient outcomes
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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