Point-of-Care Detection of Dual Methylation Genes for Rapid Bladder Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis

Bladder cancer (BCa) holds a critical position among urological malignancies worldwide, characterized by its significant impact on public health. Current detection methods are often constrained by invasiveness, high costs, or limited sensitivity, impeding early and rapid diagnosis and prediction of reoccurrence. Here, we present a detection method combining loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with lateral flow dipsticks (LFD) for the identification of methylated TWIST1 and PENK genes in urine samples. This approach aims to provide a rapid, convenient, and point-of-care (POC) tool for BCa detection, particularly in resource-limited settings. Featuring an optimized sample preprocessing protocol, a robust LAMP system, and intuitive visual readout via LFD, the LAMP-LFD method achieved 100% accuracy in both diagnostic (25/25) and prognostic (3/3) cohorts, which demonstrates significant potential for DNA methylation-based diagnostics and prognosis monitor. With further refinement, we anticipate that this method will play a crucial role in improving diagnosis and prognostic recurrence surveillance for BCa, facilitating earlier intervention and improved patient outcomes.