
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”
This trial was to find out if a new urine test for a protein called Mcm5 could help diagnose transitional bladder cancer. This trial was supported by Cancer Research UK.
Bladder cancer is usually diagnosed by looking inside the bladder with a tiny camera (a cystoscopy). Doctors are trying to find an easier and less invasive way of diagnosing bladder cancer.
A new urine test was investigated to see if it could be used to diagnose bladder cancer. This test looked for a protein called Mcm5 in the urine. Doctors needed to be sure this test was accurate and reliable before it was widely used. If found to be reliable, it may help to diagnose bladder cancer, monitor how well treatment works or check to see if a cancer has come back.
The aim of this trial was to see how reliable the Mcm5 urine test was. The results of this test were compared to the standard urine test for diagnosing bladder cancer.
The trial team found that the Mcm5 urine test was as reliable and accurate as the standard NMP22 urine test for diagnosing bladder cancer.
This trial recruited 1,677 people.
Of the 1,564 urine samples they tested using the Mcm5 test, 210 were positive for bladder cancer. Of the 1,396 samples they tested using the NMP22 test, 195 were positive.
The researchers also looked at the urine samples using both tests. They found that together they identified 95 out of every 100 bladder cancers (95%).
The trial team concluded that the Mcm5 test was just as reliable and accurate as the NMP22 test. They say that using them together could improve the diagnosis of bladder cancer and further trials are being prepared to test this.
We have based this summary on information from the team who ran the trial. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Prof Gareth Williams
Cancer Research UK
National Institute for Health Research Cancer Research Network (NCRN)
This is Cancer Research UK trial number CRUK/03/013.
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”