Urine RNA Testing Moves Closer to Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

A new method testing urinary molecules called noncoding RNA promises more sensitive and accurate prostate cancer detection than conventional PSA-based tests.

The idea was presented in a study at the European Association of Urology Congress in Germany on 11-15 March 2016.

RNAs, in full, Ribonucleic Acids, are fundamental to life. They have many biological roles, most famously processes translating genetic information in DNA into protein. There are many types; the best-known are messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA and the recently familiar noncoding RNA.

Currently used prostate cancer biomarkers are PSA (prostate-specific antigen) and PCA3 (prostate cancer gene 3) tests, but these are known to perform inadequately for many prostate cancers.

Noncoding RNAs showed greater sensitivity and accuracy for prostate cancer detection

Genomic advances reveal genetics is much more complex than thought. Organs express different molecules through differing genetic signals in health and disease.

Noncoding RNAs are one group. Until recently, these RNAs, not involved in protein production, were thought functionless. They are now understood as crucial in many processes, particularly cancer development and spread. Based on this new knowledge, the idea emerged that measuring noncoding RNAs might be used to detect cancer at an early stage.

For the study, from each of 64 prostate cancer tissues, 200 million sequences of genetic molecules were read. Approximately 2.000 sequences differed significantly from healthy tissue. Some were noncoding RNAs, suggesting new prostate cancer biomarkers.

These candidate RNAs were detected not only in tumor tissue but also patients’ urine. Early experimental tests suggest detection in urine may identify early prostate cancer much more accurately.

Combining biomarkers will increase test specificity

Researchers have already begun developing a combined biomarker test for greater sensitivity and accuracy. This is part of a project developing new RNA diagnostic biomarkers, RIBOLUTION (RIBOnucleic acid-based diagnostic soLUTIONs).