DNA in urine could be used to detect cancer

Currently, detecting cancer requires more invasive procedures like biopsies and blood draws
Marsalis McGhee
Posted:
by Marsalis McGhee
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Indiana University School of Medicine via CNN
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MADISON, Wis (WKBT) – A medical study published this week found that analyzing DNA in urine could help detect cancer.

Researchers found DNA fragmentation patterns in urine that were not random.

This could allow doctors to distinguish urine between a healthy person and someone with pancreatic or certain types of pediatric cancers.

Currently, detecting cancer requires more invasive procedures like biopsies and blood draws.

“There’s been so much progress using blood tests for cancer detection, especially this area of liquid biopsies for cancer detection and using blood samples. We were wondering whether urine would serve as a reasonable alternative because if it could work it would be truly non-invasive,” said Dr. Muhammed Murtaza, an Associate Professor of Surgery and Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

While the early results are promising, researchers indicate the need to test their findings with larger populations.

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