Urine test can spot more than nine in 10 bladder cancers

A large NHS‑run trial has shown that the Galeas urine test can detect bladder cancer with a 92 percent sensitivity, while a negative result gives patients more than a 99 percent chance of not having the disease. The study, published in European Urology Oncology, involved nearly 1,000 participants across seven hospitals in England and Scotland and was led by researchers from the University of Birmingham together with diagnostics firm Nonacus. The test works by analysing urine for over 450 DNA mutations across 23 genes that are shed by bladder tumours, offering a non‑invasive alternative to the current standard of cystoscopy, which requires inserting a camera into the bladder.

If the test’s promising early performance is confirmed in a larger trial, it could dramatically reduce the demand for urgent cystoscopies, which number more than 300,000 procedures annually in the UK and often face long waiting lists. By flagging patients at higher risk, clinicians could prioritise those who truly need the invasive examination, potentially sparing tens of thousands of people each year from an uncomfortable and costly procedure. The test was originally developed with funding from Cancer Research UK, and under a licensing agreement Nonacus commercialises it, returning a portion of revenue to the university and the charity.

Prof Richard Bryan, co‑author of the study, described the results as “very promising early performance” in a real‑world setting, while Cancer Research UK’s Michelle Mitchell stressed the urgency of shortening diagnostic delays for bladder cancer, which predominantly affects men over 60 and presents with blood in the urine. Although the test is not yet a full replacement for cystoscopy, its high negative predictive value could help rule out cancer more quickly, easing pressure on overstretched urology services and improving patient experience. Further research is planned to validate the findings and determine how best to integrate the assay into routine clinical pathways.

⚡ Effects Interpreter