Innovative Urine-based Prostate Cancer Detection Kit

Overview

It is a simple, non-invasive, home-based detection kit with high specificity and accuracy for early screening of prostate cancer. It is an innovative method which not only meets the needs of hospitals and medical clinics, but can also be used for routine and preventive testing at home.

Commercialisation opportunities

technology licensing agreement

Problem addressed

The conventional serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test shows poor specificity in prostate cancer diagnosis, which leads to poor accuracy and low clinical utility. Hence, many patients without prostate cancer are subjected to biopsy and thus its potential complications. Also, many unnecessary invasive procedures are carried out including prostatectomies.

Innovation

The research team of HKBU has identified spermine as a good urinary biomarker with >500 positive clinical prostate cancer samples, using a combination of the gold nanoparticles with spermine can diagnose prostate cancer with over 80% accuracy, at an early stage non-invasively.

Key impact

It provides a reliable assessment of a patient’s risk for prostate cancer with high accuracy. It could help avoid around 40% unnecessary prostate biopsy.
A simple non-invasive urine test (PURE Index test) was developed and the test service is now available in exclusive medical centres.
can diagnose prostate cancer with over 80% accuracy, at an early stage non-invasively.

Award

Gold Medal with Congratulations of Jury at the 47th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2019
The Thailand Award for the Best International Invention at the 47th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2019

Application

For early screening of prostate cancer
Acts as a supplementary method to the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test

Patent

US Patent No. US 10,527,627
US Patent No. US 10,816,478
European Patent No. EP 3526213 B
Taiwan Patent No. TWI681190B
Taiwan Patent No. TW I686395B

Video

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)

Aspiring to be a leading, research-led, liberal arts University in Asia, Hong Kong Baptist University is committed to conducting world-leading investigations that extends the frontiers of knowledge, tackles global challenges and benefits the community at home and abroad.

Pursuing research excellence is one of the priorities of the University’s Institutional Strategic Plan 2018-2028. The University keeps enhancing its capacity and strength to produce world-class research with an aim to bring significant impact to the society.

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