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Researchers have shown that RNA molecules in urine can be used to detect prostate cancer and also serve as marker for prostate cancer screening.

The molecules that have been identified as markers for prostate cancer are long non-coding RNA molecules, which until recently were thought to be functionless. The present study from Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute has shown that their detection in urine samples could pave the way for easy and less invasive testing as it can save unnecessary prostate biopsies. The molecules would be present only in cancer patients but not healthy individuals, Zee News reported.

"We have identified a set of lncRNAs that appear to have an important role in prostate cancer diagnostics. The findings advance our understanding of the role of lncRNAs in cancer biology and, importantly, broaden the opportunity to use lncRNAs as biomarkers to detect prostate cancer," said Ranjan J. Perera from Sanford-Burnham's Lake Nona campus in Orlando, according to Science Codex.

The study compared long non-coding RNA molecules in prostate cancer cells and normal prostate cells, tissue samples of prostate adenocarcinoma and normal tissue samples and in urine samples of prostate cancer patients, patients with benign hyperplasia and healthy men. Elevated levels of RNA molecules were found only in prostate cancer patients.

Existing practices to screen for prostate cancer involves prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test, followed by biopsies if required. Researchers believe that long non-coding RNA molecules can help in better screening.

"While elevated PSA can be an alert to a lethal cancer, it can also detect less aggressive cancers that may never do any harm. Moreover, only 25 percent of men with raised PSA levels that have a biopsy actually have prostate cancer. Prostate cancer needs to be screened for; we just need to find a better marker," said Vipul Patel, medical director of the Global Robotics Institute at Orlando's Florida Hospital, according to News Wise.