World-first urine test to detect lung cancer being developed by University of Cambridge scientists

A first-of-its-kind urine test for the early detection of lung cancer has been developed by University of Cambridge scientists.

It detects ‘zombie’ cells that could indicate the first signs of the disease, which could help bolster the 36,600 lives that Cancer Research UK says are being saved each year thanks to diagnosis.

The simple test could enable earlier treatment interventions, significantly improving patient outcomes and prognosis.

Cambridge’s Prof Ljiljana Fruk and Dr Daniel Munoz Espin and their teams are leading the research, which is funded with an £88,000 grant from Cancer Research UK.

Working at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, and the Early Cancer Institute, they are developing a cheap, affordable sensor that uses urine samples to help doctors detect lung cancer before the disease develops.

For many patients, lung cancer has a poor prognosis as there are often no noticeable symptoms until it has already spread through the lungs or into other parts of the body.

Scientists looked at proteins excreted by senescent - or “zombie” - cells, which are alive but unable to grow and divide. They cause tissue damage by reprogramming their immediate environment, promoting the emergence of cancer cells.

But the team has developed an injectable sensor that interacts with zombie cell proteins and releases an easily detectable compound into urine, signalling their presence.

These peptide-cleaving proteins are found at higher levels in the presence of zombie cells, and appear in the early stages of cancer.

“Early detection of cancer requires cost-effective tools and strategies that enable detection to happen quickly and accurately,” said Prof Fruk.

“We know that before cancer emerges there are changes in the affected tissues.

“One of the changes is the accumulation of damaged cells that are not damaged enough to be removed, but enough to release signals that reprogram the tissue and make it perfect for cancer development.

“We identified a specific protein released by these cells in lung tissue and designed a probe that is cut into two pieces in its presence. The probe is composed of two parts and the smaller one is released into urine through kidneys.

“Once in urine, this part of the probe is too small to be detected, but it can be made visible by adding a bit of silver solution to it – the same silver compound used in photography in the early days of analogue photos.

“By monitoring the colour of urine after the injection of the probe we can say if cells are present in lungs that would indicate the early signs of pathological changes that might lead to cancer.”

The researchers have proved that their urine test works in mice and hope to begin trialling it in humans soon.

She added: “Ultimately, we want to develop a urine test that could help doctors identify signs of the early stages of cancer – potentially months or even years before noticeable symptoms appear.”

The test could provide a cheaper alternative to scans.

Prof Fruk hopes her research and the effort across other university departments will result in the development of probes capable of detecting other cancers.

“We have almost completed a functional urine test to detect ‘zombie' cells in lung cancer, which will spot cancer earlier and avoid the need for invasive procedures, but this test does have potential for other cancers,” she said.

“Developing more efficient cancer treatments requires earlier detection and better therapies, but also work with other disciplines for a more holistic view of the disease, which is an essential part of my research.”

Cancer Research UK has invested more than £231million into lung cancer research over the past 10 years, helping to uncover its causes and create new drugs to treat it.

“Cancer Research UK has played a key role in advancing lung cancer research and improving survival,” said Dr Iain Foulkes, Cancer Research UK’s executive director of research and innovation. “This project being led by Professor Fruk is another example of our commitment to driving progress so that more people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.”

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK, with around 50,000 people diagnosed each year. Only 10 per cent of people survive for 10 years after a diagnosis of lung cancer.

CRUK figures show that around 46% of cases are diagnosed when a person has later stage cancer.