Urine fingerprint to predict aggressive early bladder cancer
Project 3
This project tests whether a urine-based fingerprint can predict which people with early bladder cancer will develop aggressive disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11192235 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect urine from people with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and search for a specific molecular fingerprint linked to tumor behavior. They will compare samples from patients whose cancers later progress to muscle-invasive disease with samples from those whose cancers remain non-progressive. The team will develop a non-invasive urine assay based on these biomarkers and test it prospectively before tumors become clinically advanced. The work connects lab discoveries about tumor and microenvironment changes to a potential clinical test for earlier risk identification.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are people diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, especially those newly diagnosed or under surveillance for recurrence.
Not a fit: People with already muscle-invasive bladder cancer or those whose tumors do not release detectable urine biomarkers may not benefit from this urine-based approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to a non-invasive urine test that identifies early bladder cancers likely to become aggressive, allowing earlier treatment and closer monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Existing urine tests can detect bladder cancer but have limited ability to predict which early tumors will progress, so using a molecular 'fingerprint' to forecast progression is a newer, less-proven approach.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Methodist Hospital Research Institute — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Furuya, Hideki — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Furuya, Hideki
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.