UCL scientists develop urine test to detect bladder cancer

A recent study published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute reports that academics at University College London (UCL) have developed a simple urine test to diagnose bladder cancer.

The test measures levels of the protein Mcm5 in urine and the study proved twice as effective in identifying tumours than the current cystoscopy procedure, which is both invasive and expensive.

Professor Gareth Williams and Dr Kai Stoeber from the Wolfson Institute of Biomedical Research at UCL who developed the test will now carry out multi-centre trials. They hope that the new test will become the standard way to detect bladder cancer.

Professor Gareth Williams says: "While bladder and prostate cancer can be treated easily if caught in the early stages, both are currently often detected late. This new urine test allows them to be detected earlier in a way which is far simpler for the patient and at far less cost to the NHS."

Bladder cancer is the fourth commonest cancer in men and the eighth commonest cancer in women. Latest statistics show there are nearly 13,000 new cases a year mostly occurring in the over 65's.

Notes to Editors:

'Diagnosis of Genito-Urinary Tract Cancer by Detection of Minichromosome Maintenance 5 Protein in Urine Sediments' by Professor Gareth Williams and Dr Kai Stoeber at The Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London (UCL) published in: Journal of National Cancer Institute, Volume 94, No. 14, 17 July 2002.