Veterinary Highlights: New Bladder Cancer Testing?

Veterinary researchers at Oregon State University have identified a unique group of proteins that indicate the presence of transitional cell carcinoma, most common bladder cancer.

This might result in a reliable early detection test.

Bladder cancer is one of the diseases that doesn't give much warning. About 20% of dogs with bladder cancer have metastases at the time of diagnosis. The long-term prognosis  is generally poor regardless of therapy.

The new test should improve the chances of catching the disease early for better treatment outcome.

It might even become an over-the-counter urine testing product.

The group of proteins identified in this research already have a 90 percent accuracy. Some of these proteins aren't only biomarkers of the disease but are involved in the disease process.

Understanding their involvement might also lead to new therapies.

Source article:
Research could lead to new cancer assay, aid both dogs and humans