The experts from the University’s Postgraduate Medical School worked alongside The Prostate Project to develop a simple test that detects a protein called Engrailed-2 (EN2) in men’s urine.

As EN2 is usually only found in developing embryos, its presence in an adult body suggests that a person has cancer, allowing patients to access vital early treatment.

Professor Hardev Pandha, The Prostate Project’s Chair of Urological Oncology at Surrey, said: “We looked at the tests of 100 men with prostate cancer and found the protein was made in the cancers in more than 90 of them.

“The eureka moment was when we realised that not only was EN2 switched on, but little packages of the protein were made by cancer cells and appeared to be transported into the prostate ductal fluid, which is important for reproductive health.

“We hypothesised that EN2 would not only be present in the fluid, but it may also appear in the urine.”

One of the key benefits of the EN2 test is its simplicity. Instead of the blood test and biopsy required by the existing PSA system, the new method can be carried out in a doctor’s surgery in a fraction of the time.

Professor Pandha, who carried out the study with Dr Richard Morgan, continued: “Its potential importance lies in the fact that it could be adapted for clinical procedures. We have developed a stick test so that a family physician could make a diagnosis in their surgery

“The future implication is that this could be suitable for developing countries and point-of-care services around the world.”

With the EN2 test concept in place, the Surrey team are now working alongside academic and industry partners to further their understanding of the protein’s link to prostate cancer.

The University has teamed up with London’s Guy’s Hospital and Cornell University and the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, both based in the United States, to examine whether any connections exist between the amount of EN2 in urine and the scale of cancer present.

Professor Pandha said: “These four ongoing studies will, we hope, show that there is in fact a correlation there. Once that is in place, we will be able to say that if there is a certain amount of cancer present, it should be treated; if it’s less you shouldn’t.”

The successes of the Surrey scientists so far have only been possible thanks to a joint support effort from the University, the NHS, the Prostate Project Charity and the patients.

Professor Pandha reserved special praise for Surrey’s research-intensive environment, adding: "Having the University’s state-of-the-art facilities, the support of the faculties and the enthusiasm of the patients has really helped us to push this forward."

"The speed and collaboration with which we have got this done would have been very difficult to achieve in any other centre."