Early Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer: the Urine24 project presented at ICC 2025
During the 2025 edition of the ICC - International Congress of Cytology, held in Florence, Italy - Matteo Botteghi presented the Urine24 project, a proposal that could mark a momentous turning point in the early diagnosis of bladder cancer. Botteghi, co-founder and CEO of WorldConnex and director of development of Hospitex Digital Pathology, illustrated a diagnostic model that combines technological innovation, territorial medicine and patient accessibility. The congress, a global benchmark for innovation in cytopathology, provided the ideal stage to discuss the future of urinary cytology and its possible role as a nationwide screening program.
A one-of-a-kind sample
Urinary cytology stands out in the landscape of oncology diagnostics because of a unique feature: urine is the only oncology specimen that can be self-collected by the patient, without the need for direct clinical intervention. This peculiarity opens entirely new scenarios for preventive medicine and territorial management of patients.
The Urine24 proposal
The Urine24 project, presented just in Florence, aims to bridge the gap between research and clinical application through:
- A collection kit compliant with TPS II requirements (The Paris System).
- Advanced sample preparation technologies, such as Custom Density Monolayer (LBC).
- Integration with second-level examinations: FISH on chromosomes 3, 11, 17, molecular biology (TERT), IHC.
- Pervasive logistics: self-collection and door-to-door collection services.
- Development of artificial intelligence-based diagnostic support algorithms.
- A collection kit compliant with TPS II requirements (The Paris System).
- Advanced sample preparation technologies, such as Custom Density Monolayer (LBC).
- Integration with second-level examinations: FISH on chromosomes 3, 11, 17, molecular biology (TERT), IHC.
- Pervasive logistics: self-collection and door-to-door collection services.
- Development of artificial intelligence-based diagnostic support algorithms.
Why could this become a national screening?
The advantages of urine cytology according to the Urine24 approach are many:
- High sensitivity and specificity.
- Low cost compared with other oncology tests.
- Standardized and easily integrated into community medicine pathways.
- Potentially huge impact on early diagnosis.
- High sensitivity and specificity.
- Low cost compared with other oncology tests.
- Standardized and easily integrated into community medicine pathways.
- Potentially huge impact on early diagnosis.
Is fate sealed?
With the ability to collect the sample directly from home, without invasive procedures, the path toward adoption of urinary cytology as a national screening seems marked. However, to date it still remains a voluntary initiative, aimed at those who consciously choose to prevent.
