We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
ZeptoMetrix an Antylia scientific company

Download Mobile App




Urine Tests Could Reveal Early Signs of Cancer and Other Diseases

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 24 Oct 2024
Print article
Image: Studying the RNA within urine can reveal early signs of cancer and other diseases (Photo courtesy of UT Arlington)
Image: Studying the RNA within urine can reveal early signs of cancer and other diseases (Photo courtesy of UT Arlington)

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.” 

Related Links:
University of Texas at Arlington

Gold Member
Chagas Disease Test
CHAGAS Cassette
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Silver Member
H-FABP Assay
Heart-Type Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Assay
New
Creatine Kinase-MB Assay
CK-MB Test

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The GlycoLocate platform uses multi-omics and advanced computational biology algorithms to diagnose early-stage cancers (Photo courtesy of AOA Dx)

AI-Powered Blood Test Accurately Detects Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, largely due to late-stage diagnoses. Although over 90% of women exhibit symptoms in Stage I, only 20% are diagnosed in... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The new algorithms can help predict which patients have undiagnosed cancer (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Advanced Predictive Algorithms Identify Patients Having Undiagnosed Cancer

Two newly developed advanced predictive algorithms leverage a person’s health conditions and basic blood test results to accurately predict the likelihood of having an undiagnosed cancer, including ch... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The collaboration aims to leverage Oxford Nanopore\'s sequencing platform and Cepheid\'s GeneXpert system to advance the field of sequencing for infectious diseases (Photo courtesy of Cepheid)

Cepheid and Oxford Nanopore Technologies Partner on Advancing Automated Sequencing-Based Solutions

Cepheid (Sunnyvale, CA, USA), a leading molecular diagnostics company, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford, UK), the company behind a new generation of sequencing-based molecular analysis technologies,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.