At-Home Urine Test Offers New Way to Detect Certain Types Of Cancer

New Urine Tests Show Promise in Detecting Prostate and Pancreatic Cancer

Scientists are reporting a breakthrough that could change how doctors screen for two of the deadliest and most challenging cancers — and it involves nothing more invasive than a urine sample.

A Major Step Forward in Non-Invasive Cancer Screening
Researchers in South Korea and the United States have independently reported encouraging results with urine-based tests that could transform the way prostate and pancreatic cancers are detected. Unlike current methods, which often rely on blood tests, imaging, or invasive biopsies, these new approaches use a simple urine sample to look for molecular or genetic signals of aggressive disease.

The studies, though still in development, are being hailed as potential game-changers in the fields of urology and oncology, with one group even suggesting that urine tests may soon be collected from home and mailed to laboratories for analysis.

South Korean Scientists Detect Pancreatic and Prostate Cancer with Urine
In one of the most striking reports, a team from the Korea Institute of Materials Science unveiled a novel diagnostic platform that uses Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) combined with machine learning. Their method analyzes subtle molecular fingerprints in urine samples, producing near-instant results.

The team tested urine from 19 patients with pancreatic cancer, 39 with prostate cancer, and 60 healthy individuals. According to the study, their test achieved 99% accuracy in distinguishing cancerous samples from healthy controls.

“This technology could become a routine test in clinics, and possibly even in pharmacies,” the lead investigator noted in early statements. “Our goal is to move cancer screening away from invasive procedures and toward rapid, simple methods that anyone can access.”

Pancreatic cancer, in particular, has long frustrated oncologists. Because it rarely causes symptoms until advanced stages, it remains one of the deadliest cancers. If validated in larger trials, the possibility of detecting pancreatic cancer early through urine could alter survival statistics worldwide.

American Researchers Push Prostate Cancer Testing Beyond PSA
While the Korean team focused on metabolomic signals, researchers at the University of Michigan took a genetic approach with their MyProstateScore 2.0 (MPS2) test.

Unlike the PSA blood test, which can trigger unnecessary biopsies by flagging benign conditions, the MPS2 assay is designed to detect only clinically significant prostate cancers — particularly those classified as Grade Group 2 or higher. By targeting an 18-gene panel, the test can effectively separate aggressive cancers from low-grade disease.

In validation studies, MPS2 ruled out almost 100% of low-grade cancers, giving physicians confidence to avoid unnecessary biopsies. The researchers estimate that this test could reduce unneeded biopsies by up to 41%, compared to just 11% if PSA were used alone.

“Men often face the anxiety and risks of biopsy when it isn’t truly needed,” one of the Michigan urologists explained. “This test helps us identify the patients who actually require intervention — and equally important, those who don’t.”

The Rise of At-Home Testing
Adding to the excitement, a follow-up study reported by eCancer News revealed that MPS2 works even without a digital rectal exam (DRE). Traditionally, prostate urine assays required a DRE before sample collection to shed prostate cells into the urine stream. But the new data show that the test performs reliably with a simple, passive urine sample.

This raises the possibility of at-home prostate cancer testing, where men collect urine at home, send it to a lab, and receive results remotely. Researchers estimate that this model could eliminate 34–53% of unnecessary biopsies in men flagged by elevated PSA levels.

The move toward at-home cancer screening parallels trends in other fields of medicine, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic normalized remote testing. Experts believe it could drastically expand access, especially for patients in rural areas or those reluctant to undergo invasive testing.

Doctors Weigh the Benefits and Concerns
For physicians, the potential benefits are clear:

• Reduced reliance on invasive biopsies.
  
  
• Improved ability to distinguish indolent cancers from aggressive disease.
  
  
• Non-invasive options that may improve patient compliance.
  
  
• Possible early detection of pancreatic cancer, a notoriously late-stage diagnosis.
  

But concerns remain. Larger trials are needed to confirm accuracy across diverse populations. Questions about false negatives, biomarker stability, and long-term outcomes are still unanswered.

“Urine is not as stable as blood when it comes to biomarkers,” noted one oncologist not involved in the studies. “We need to understand how hydration, infections, or comorbidities affect these results. Until then, these tests are promising but not yet ready to replace established diagnostic pathways.”

What It Could Mean for Clinical Practice
If validated and approved, these urine-based tests could reshape diagnostic algorithms in both urology and oncology.

For prostate cancer, clinicians could soon use a tiered system:

1. PSA screening as the initial flag.
   
   
2. MPS2 urine testing to triage patients.
   
   
3. MRI and biopsy only for those flagged by MPS2.
   

For pancreatic cancer, widespread screening is still a distant goal, but high-risk groups — such as patients with genetic predisposition or new-onset diabetes — could benefit from early, non-invasive urine testing before symptoms develop.

The long-term vision includes telemedicine integration, where patients could be monitored remotely through regular at-home urine tests, with results fed directly into electronic health records for physician review.

The Road Ahead
Both research groups are clear: larger clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and health-economic studies are necessary before these urine tests reach routine practice. Commercialization efforts are already underway for the MPS2 assay, while the Korean SERS platform is expected to move toward larger trials and potential expansion into other cancers such as lung and colorectal.

Despite the hurdles, the enthusiasm within the medical community is growing. Many see urine-based testing as part of the broader shift toward precision medicine and patient-centered care, where diagnostics are tailored, non-invasive, and accessible.

Key Takeaways for Doctors

• Urine testing may soon complement or replace parts of current cancer screening workflows.
  
  
• For prostate cancer, MPS2 shows strong potential to cut unnecessary biopsies while identifying aggressive disease.
  
  
• For pancreatic cancer, early pilot studies suggest a urine metabolomic signature could detect cases with high accuracy.
  
  
• At-home testing is no longer theoretical; it is already feasible for prostate cancer, with trials showing strong performance.
  
  
• Larger validation and cost-effectiveness studies are essential before widespread adoption.