Birmingham University & Nonacus to develop urine test for bladder cancer
pharmafile | July 1, 2021 | News story | | bladder cancer, cfdna, oncology
The University of Birmingham has partnered with Nonacus to develop a non-invasive test for bladder cancer.
The test, which is expected to be available by mid-2022, will use sensitive liquid biopsy technology developed by Nonacus and a panel of biomarkers, validated by Dr Rik Bryan and Dr Douglas Ward from the University’s Bladder Cancer Research Centre, to diagnose the disease from urine samples.
The urine test can find mutated DNA shed by cancer cells from the lining of the urinary tract and also cell-free DNA fragments. However, extracting DNA from the cancer cells provides more reliable amounts of DNA for the test, especially when only small volumes of urine may be available. Coupling the mutation panel with the unique molecular identifiers and the proprietary target capture technology provided by the Nonacus Cell3 Target, will provide a much more sensitive test than the existing PCR-based approach.
Nonacus intends to launch the new bladder cancer test within 12 months, and the final product will include access to bioinformatics software to help with analysis. The company expects the test will provide high sensitivity for all stages and grades of disease, and will ensure the test is available worldwide to laboratories, hospitals and clinics.
Dr Bryan, Director of the Bladder Cancer Research Centre, said: “While blood visible in the urine should always be investigated, over 80% of people who have a cystoscopy at a haematuria clinic are diagnosed with non-malignant conditions or have no abnormality. Unfortunately, the remaining 20% will need a further invasive procedure to confirm diagnosis.
“What is required is a highly sensitive and specific, non-invasive test that can rapidly determine those who need a biopsy and those who do not, and a urine test is the obvious place to start.”
Bladder cancer is the seventh most common cancer in the developed world. In the UK, over 100,000 people a year are referred to hospital clinics that investigate for bladder cancer, usually after passing blood in their urine (haematuria).
The first stage of investigation is usually cystoscopy, which involves inserting a camera into the bladder. Of these 100,000 patients, around 12% are subsequently diagnosed with bladder cancer, normally after a second invasive procedure to extract a biopsy.
Allen Knight, Chair of Trustees at Action Bladder Cancer UK, said: “This really is very exciting and has the potential to make an incredible difference for patients and for Bladder Cancer treatment. Currently urine tests do not accurately pick up bladder cancer, and invasive tests are required to confirm a diagnosis.
“A urine test that can rapidly determine who needs these tests will be a very welcome development. Many patients, myself included, find cystoscopies very uncomfortable at best, and they can have lasting side effects. This research could pave the way for routine screening, common in other cancers, but unavailable at present for Bladder Cancer.”
Kat Jenkins
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