Urine test 'could detect prostate cancer'

A urine test could be used to detect the risk of prostate cancer, a new study has indicated.

Research published in journal Science Translational Medicine debuted the new test, which could assist in early detection and decisions about treatment.

The test supplements an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening result and would help some patients avoid a needle biopsy and identify those with the highest chance of developing clinically significant prostate cancer.

It detects a genetic anomaly present in around half of all prostate cancers, during which two genes swap places and fuse together to become TMPRSS2:ERG - which is believes to cause the condition.

Lead author Scott Tomlins said: "We think this is going to be a tool to help men with elevated PSA decide if they need a biopsy or if they can delay having a biopsy and follow their PSA and urine TMPRSS2:ERG and PCA3."

This follows a Harvard School of Public-health led investigation which discovered that regularly drinking coffee could cut the risk of developing prostate cancer.

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