Nicotine by-product can predict recurrence of cancer
A by-product of nicotine, found in the urine of smokers, could be used to identify when bladder cancer has returned, new research has found.
The pilot study, presented today at the 2021 European Association of Urology Congress, found that patients with high levels of cotinine were four times more likely to have their cancer return, compared to those with lower levels of the chemical. The researchers’ goal is that a simple urine test for cotinine could reduce the number of invasive investigations that cancer patients undergo following diagnosis and treatment.