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Clinical Research and Public HealthIn-Press PreviewClinical ResearchOncology Open Access | 10.1172/JCI203094

Large multicenter validation of urine RNA profile for urothelial carcinoma detection and surveillance

Kathleen E. Mach,1 Zachary Kornberg,1 Eugene Shkolyar,1 Jin Long,2 Timothy J. Lee,1 Vinh La,1 Ihna Yoo,1 Gabriela Rodriguez,1 Alan E. Thong,1 Kris B. Prado,1 Jay B. Shah,1 John T. Leppert,1 Eila C. Skinner,1 and Joseph C. Liao1

1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

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1Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

2Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States of America

Find articles by Liao, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

Published April 9, 2026 - More info

J Clin Invest. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI203094.
Copyright © 2026, Mach et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published April 9, 2026 - Version history
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Abstract

BACKGROUND. Current diagnosis and surveillance of bladder cancer relies on cystoscopy which is invasive and user dependent. The urine mRNA panel, uRNAp, measures expression of 3 genes for identification of bladder cancer. Here we report validation of uRNAp for patients undergoing initial work-up for suspected bladder cancer and surveillance for bladder cancer.

METHODS. Urine specimens were prospectively collected prior to cystoscopy at two health care systems from patients without (detection cohort) or with (surveillance cohort) a history of bladder cancer. RNA was isolated from urine sediment for RT-qPCR to determine ROBO1, CRH, and IGF2 expression and calculate the uRNAp bladder cancer probability score.

RESULTS. In the detection cohort, 547 samples were collected from 529 patients. There were 123 new diagnoses of bladder cancer in the detection cohort and uRNAp demonstrated 98% sensitivity and 51% specificity for identification of bladder cancer. In the surveillance cohort, 1543 samples were collected from 447 patients with 286 recurrences. uRNAp demonstrated 94% overall sensitivity with 43% specificity and 99% sensitivity for high-grade recurrence. The receiver operating characteristic area under the curve was 0.92 in the detection and 0.81 in the surveillance cohort. uRNAp scores significantly increased with tumor size and grade.

CONCLUSIONS. Prospective validation of uRNAp demonstrated a strong potential clinical utility as a non-invasive adjunct to cystoscopy for management of bladder cancer. uRNAp may be a useful triage tool to defer or expedite cystoscopy for patients undergoing detection or surveillance of bladder cancer.

FUNDING. Department of Veterans Affairs BLR&D Merit Review I01 BX004962 to JCL.

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