A new device was made by scientists from the United Kingdom was proven successful in its initial test of detecting bladder cancer based on the odor of the urine samples.
The device is equipped by a sensor that can detect gaseous chemicals released by the cancer cells. This will immediately reveal whether the patient has bladder cancer or none. However, the scientists would like to do further testing before they make it available generally.
Bladder cancer in the U.K had affected about 10,000 of its population every year which made medical experts started looking for ways to catch this cancer earlier so they can still cure it. In the U.S, according to the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) data, bladder or urinary bladder cancer is at the top 6 spot of the most common types of cancer between 2005 and 2009 with a share of 21.2 percent. The mortality rate is at 4.4 percent.
This new device was developed by Liverpool University professor Chris Probert and University of the West of England professor Norman Ratcliffe. They designed it to be able to read and analyze the gases emitted by the urine samples when exposed to heat.
They tested the device in 98 urine samples of male participants—24 of those were confirmed to have bladder cancer while 74 have no cancer but reported to have bladder-related concerns. Their ages range between 27 to 91 years old. They also factored in the smoking status of the participants as well.
Their tests revealed an accuracy rate of 96 percent and they are now preparing to test it to a larger group before they endorse it for hospital use. They would also want to test it on female participants to see if it will still provide accurate results.
The initial success of this device is considered groundbreaking as there were no other biomarkers used to screen bladder cancer.
The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
