New Blood Test Shows Promise in Early Bladder Cancer Detection, Boosting Survival Rates
Milan, Italy – October 20, 2025 – A novel blood test demonstrating high accuracy in detecting early-stage bladder cancer is poised to significantly improve patient outcomes, offering a less invasive alternative to conventional cystoscopies.Researchers at the European institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan announced today the results of a multi-center clinical trial revealing the test’s ability to identify the disease with up to 85% sensitivity and 90% specificity. This breakthrough could dramatically alter the landscape of bladder cancer diagnosis and treatment, possibly leading to earlier interventions and increased survival rates for the approximately 430,000 people diagnosed with the disease globally each year.
Bladder cancer, frequently enough initially presenting with subtle symptoms like blood in the urine, frequently isn’t diagnosed until it has progressed to a more advanced stage. This late detection contributes to a five-year survival rate of approximately 77% in the united States,a figure experts believe could be substantially improved with earlier diagnosis. The new blood test analyzes circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) – fragments of cancer cells’ genetic material released into the bloodstream – offering a non-invasive method to identify the presence of the disease,even before symptoms manifest. The IEO study, published in The Lancet oncology, followed 500 patients with suspected bladder cancer and 500 healthy controls, demonstrating the test’s robust performance across diverse patient populations. Researchers anticipate the test will initially be used to triage patients, reducing the number of needless cystoscopies – a procedure frequently enough considered uncomfortable and requiring specialized equipment – and focusing them on individuals with a higher probability of having the disease.
