Varanasi: In a breakthrough for cancer diagnostics, researchers have unveiled a novel, non-invasive urine test for the early detection of urinary bladder cancer (UBC), promising a safer and simpler alternative to conventional screening.The pioneering work is a collaboration between the School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, and the Department of Urology, Institute of Medical Sciences, IMS-BHU.“The test is currently done using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a highly sensitive lab technique. But our team is now developing a kit similar to a pregnancy test kit. A patent will also be filed,” said Dr Samarendra Kumar Singh of BHU’s School of Biotechnology. Dr Singh led the team comprising Dr Lalit Kumar, Dr Garima Singh, Dr Anil Kumar and Shristy Bhattacharjee from the urology department.The research has been published in reputed International journal of Nature Springer BMC Urology (2026).Experts say India records about 13,000 urinary bladder cancer deaths every year, with men above 50 being the most vulnerable.The researchers demonstrated that urinary exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) serve as highly stable and reliable biomarkers for cancer detection. This approach overcomes limitations of current diagnostic methods such as cystoscopy, which is invasive, and urine cytology, which has low sensitivity.Dr Samarendra said, “Three-miRNA panels showed greater than 90% sensitivity, indicating strong potential as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for bladder cancer. The study also revealed stage-specific expression patterns, suggesting that these biomarkers may help in monitoring disease progression in addition to early detection.”“This study represents a significant step toward non-invasive cancer diagnostics. Detecting cancer through a simple urine sample can transform patient care by making early diagnosis more accessible and patient-friendly,” he said, adding, “MicroRNA-based approaches not only improve detection but also enhance our understanding of cancer progression, paving the way for precision medicine.”Dr Lalit said that the study represents a promising shift toward non-invasive and patient-friendly diagnosis of bladder cancer. “Such discoveries have the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and significantly benefit society,” he added.The findings provide a strong foundation for a large-scale multi-centre study to be followed up, with the potential to translate into clinical diagnostic applications, the team said.We’re at the stage of discussing a pregnancy-kit-style diagnostic. Since it involves mobilizing micro and nano complementary elements, it can be challenging,” Dr Samarendra said. Until the kit is ready, RT-PCR can be used and will generate reports within two hours, he added. “RT-PCR can indicate the tumour load inside the body. Otherwise, you need a biopsy or cystoscopy, both costly and time-consuming.”“We are all set to file for some patents but the vision will be to benefit all the needy patent,” Dr Samarendra said.
