Could a home urine test revolutionise prostate cancer diagnosis? We’re funding research to find out

A prostate cancer urine test which has the potential to spot men with aggressive prostate cancer hit the headlines today. Now, Prostate Cancer UK and Movember are funding the next stage of research to test this in a larger group of men.

The research, led by Dr Jeremy Clark and Professor Colin Cooper at the University of East Anglia and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, showed a home-based urine test has the potential to spot prostate cancer that requires treatment.

The ‘PUR’ test (Prostate Urine Risk) looks at biomarkers for prostate cancer that are secreted into the urine from the cancer. This information can be used to help predict whether prostate cancer is aggressive and needs treatment, or can be monitored without treatment under active surveillance.

In the study, 14 men gave a urine sample both in the clinic after a digital rectal examination, and at home from their first urination of the day. The researchers found results from the at-home test were better at predicting which men had prostate cancer that needed treatment. In the future, an at-home urine test for monitoring prostate cancer could save men the stress, time and inconvenience of having to attend a clinic.

The researchers said their test could be particularly useful for men whose prostate cancer is being monitored under active surveillance, who currently undergo tests every 6 – 12 months to monitor their prostate cancer.

Simon Grieveson, Head of Research Funding at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We urgently need better tests both to detect prostate cancer early, and to help inform whether men are likely to need urgent treatment or if they can safely remain under active surveillance. This new test is early in its development, but has the potential to offer a simple, non-invasive way of predicting aggressive prostate cancer without the need for men to attend a clinic.

“However, this has currently only been trialled in a small number of men, which is why Prostate Cancer UK and Movember are happy to announce that we have awarded funding to the team at the University of East Anglia to test this in a much larger group of men. We hope that this research will bring us a step closer to making a more accurate and earlier diagnosis a reality for men with prostate cancer.”

Prostate Cancer UK and Movember are funding the next stage of research, to test the at-home PUR test in 450 men.

Over three years, this research will help validate the at-home version of the test, and hopefully confirm it can accurately predict the presence of aggressive prostate cancer or spot prostate cancer progression in active surveillance patients.

Thank you for helping us fund new research, like the PUR test, that aims to bring earlier and more accurate tests to men sooner. And a special thanks to all the mo' brothers and sisters who've raised millions to allow progress like this to happen.