H19 non-coding RNA in urine cells detects urothelial carcinoma: a pilot study

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is common and highly recurrent. Diagnosis and follow-up involve invasive cystoscopies.

To evaluate H19 RNA in urine cells as diagnostic tool for UC.

RT-PCR analysis of urine samples from healthy volunteers and UC patients.

H19 RNA was unequivocally detected in the urine of 90.5% of patients and 25.9% of controls. H19 copies were three orders of magnitude higher in patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.933.

This pilot study shows that urinary cell H19 is a highly sensitive test for UC and pending verification could transform patient management.