Scientists Develop Urine Test for Early Lung Cancer Detection

The test, which identifies proteins linked to cancer development, has shown success in mice and is moving toward human trials.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have created a urine test that detects proteins from senescent 'zombie' cells, which are linked to the early stages of lung cancer.
The test uses an injectable sensor that interacts with these proteins and releases a detectable compound into urine, signaling potential cancer development.
This innovation aims to address the challenge of late-stage lung cancer diagnoses, which currently account for nearly half of all cases in the UK.
The test has been successfully trialed in mice, and scientists are preparing for further validation and eventual human clinical trials.
The project, funded by Cancer Research UK, could provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive scans and may be expanded to detect other cancers such as breast, melanoma, and pancreatic.