USA —A new genomic urine test developed by Convergent Genomics called UroAmp may be able to accurately predict bladder cancer up to 12 years before clinical signs and symptoms emerge, according to a new study presented at the 2023 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting.
This could revolutionize the way we screen for and diagnose bladder cancer, leading to earlier detection and better treatment outcomes.
Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States, with an estimated 84,000 new cases and over 17,000 deaths expected in 2023.
The UroAmp test uses next-generation DNA sequencing and machine learning to analyze urine for mutations across 60 genes linked to bladder cancer while also measuring the entire genome.
This comprehensive genomic approach is more accurate than other methods of detection and monitoring and provides greater insights into a patient’s prognosis and risk of recurrence than cystoscopy alone, which is the most common method of detection for bladder cancer.
In a recent study presented at the 2023 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, researchers studied UroAmp in two ways.
First, they conducted a case-control study with urine samples from 96 control subjects and 70 bladder cancer patients.
This found UroAmp had an 86% sensitivity in predicting new tumors and 71% sensitivity overall (new and recurrent).
Specificity, or the percentage of people who tested negative for bladder cancer and do not have the disease, was 94%.
A second study used a nested case-control design within the prospective Golestan Cohort Study, which contains urine samples from over 50,000 patients taken up to 12 years ago.
Researchers analyzed the urine from 29 patients who developed bladder cancer and compared it to 98 control subjects who never developed the disease.
UroAmp correctly predicted future cancer in 66% of cases with a 94% specificity. When limited to patients who were diagnosed within five years from initial urine collection, UroAmp sensitivity jumped to 90%.
Funding for the study was provided by the National Cancer Institute through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to Convergent Genomics.
The UroAmp test may be administered at home or in a healthcare setting and is analyzed at Convergent’s CLIA-certified lab in South San Francisco, where the comprehensive genomic profile and risk assessment are developed.
In addition to UroAmp, there are several other cancer screening technologies either in the pipeline or already in use.
One of the most promising is the GRAIL cancer test, which is a blood test that uses next-generation sequencing to detect early-stage cancer.
The test has been shown to detect multiple types of cancer with a high degree of accuracy and is currently in clinical trials.
Another screening technology that has been in use for several years is the liquid biopsy. This is a blood test that detects circulating tumor cells and DNA in the bloodstream, allowing for early detection of cancer and monitoring of treatment response.
The test has been shown to be effective in detecting several types of cancer, including lung, breast, and colon cancer.
The Cancer Moonshot program, launched by current U.S. President Joe Biden in 2016, aims to accelerate cancer research and make more therapies available to more patients while also improving cancer prevention and early detection.
The program has led to several new initiatives and funding opportunities for cancer research and is expected to lead to significant advancements in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment in the coming years.
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