New Urine Test for Non-Invasive Detection of Prostate Cancer

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University and several collaborating institutions have developed a groundbreaking urine-based diagnostic test aimed at identifying prostate cancer with high accuracy. This innovative approach could drastically reduce the reliance on invasive prostate biopsies, which are often associated with discomfort and risks.

The study focused on analyzing urine samples from men with prostate cancer both before and after surgical removal of the prostate, along with samples from healthy individuals. Using advanced RNA sequencing and gene expression analysis, scientists identified a panel of three key biomarkers—TTC3, H4C5, and EPCAM—that are strongly associated with the presence of prostate cancer. These biomarkers are detectable in urine prior to surgery and diminish significantly after the prostate is removed, confirming their origin from prostate tissue.

The diagnostic performance of the biomarker panel was tested in both development and validation phases. The test achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.92, indicating high accuracy. It successfully identified prostate cancer in 91% of cases and correctly ruled out the disease in 84% of healthy controls. Notably, the test demonstrated robustness in detecting prostate cancers that are negative for prostate-specific antigen (PSA), often complicating traditional diagnosis.

This urine-based assay was also proficient at distinguishing prostate cancer from benign conditions such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), with an AUC of 0.89. The study highlights the potential of this biomarker panel not only for early detection but also for reducing unnecessary biopsies and overtreatment, particularly in patients with low PSA levels. The biomarkers involved play roles in cancer cell division, chromatin structure, and cellular adhesion, which are integral to tumor development.

Senior author Ranjan Perera emphasizes that this noninvasive test could be a significant advancement in prostate cancer diagnostics, offering higher specificity than current methods. Co-author Christian Pavlovich notes the ease of urine collection in clinical settings, which enhances the test’s practicality. The research team has filed a patent and aims to conduct further independent trials to validate and refine the test for routine clinical use.

The development of this urine-based biomarker test marks a promising step toward more accurate, less invasive prostate cancer diagnosis, potentially transforming current screening protocols and improving patient outcomes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-urine-based-id-prostate-cancers.html