Urine test may detect cancer

A simple urine test that could detect early-stage pancreatic cancer, potentially saving hundreds of lives, has been developed by scientists.

Researchers say they have identified three proteins which give an early warning of the disease, with more than 90% accuracy. The discovery could lead to a non-invasive, inexpensive test to screen people at high risk of developing the disease.

A team at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, found the three-protein “signature” can identify the most common pancreatic cancer in its early stages and distinguish between this cancer and the inflammatory condition chronic pancreatitis, which can be hard to tell apart.