Scientists have developed the world's first urine test that can detect the first signs of lung cancer. Lung cancer is often diagnosed in its late stages, making it difficult to treat. However, scientists hope that early detection of the disease will allow starting treatment at the initial stages, which will increase the chances of patients ' successful recovery.
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The innovative test looks for so-called" zombie cells " — damaged cells that can indicate the presence of cancer in the early stages. The study has already been successfully tested in mice, and scientists hope to start testing in humans soon.
Scientists from the University of Cambridge and the Institute for early cancer have studied proteins released from senescent cells, often referred to as "zombie cells" because they remain alive but unable to grow and divide. These cells cause tissue damage by recycling the environment, which contributes to the appearance of cancer cells.
Scientists have developed an injectable sensor that interacts with zombie cell proteins and releases an easily detectable compound into the urine that signals their presence. Professor Lilia Fruk explained:
We know that before cancer occurs, changes occur in the affected tissues. One such change is the accumulation of damaged cells that are not damaged enough to be removed, but enough to emit signals that reprogram the tissue and make it ideal for cancer development
She added that the scientists identified a specific protein secreted by these cells in lung tissue and created a probe that splits into two parts in their presence. One part of the probe enters the urine through the kidneys, but becomes too small to detect. However, it can be made visible by adding a silver solution — the same one used in analog cameras.
With this test, scientists can determine if there are cells in the lungs that indicate early signs of pathological changes that can lead to cancer. Scientists hope that this method will become a cheaper alternative to expensive scans, and also help doctors detect cancer even before obvious symptoms appear.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the world, killing about 1.8 million people each year. The chances of survival in patients with different stages of the disease, when the cancer has already spread, are very low.
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