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Scientists question cancer tests that use microscopic nematode worms

Some doctors say a troublingly high number of cancer-free people have tested positive on the tests sold by a Japanese start-up.
  1. David McNeill

    1. David McNeill is a freelance writer based in Tokyo.

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  2. Momoko Suda

    1. Momoko is a science journalist based in Japan.

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Questions have been raised about the accuracy of a test sold by a Japanese start-up company that is designed to detect a person’s risk of certain types of cancer from a urine sample. Two Japanese medical societies have launched an investigation following concerns voiced by several doctors about the accuracy of the tests, which rely on the movement of microscopic nematode worms to detect the presence of tumours.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-03733-9

Updates & Corrections

  • Correction 05 January 2024: An earlier version of this story stated that reference 5 presented results for the commercially available test. In fact, the study looked at a different version of N-Nose.

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