Urine-based Biomarkers: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects
摘要
Urine, recognized as “liquid gold,” contains a wealth of biomolecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and extracellular vesicles, reflecting the body’s physiological and pathological states. In recent years, urine biomarker analysis has shifted from qualitative, single-target detection toward quantitative, multi-target and omics-based approaches, enhancing early disease screening and dynamic monitoring. Compared to blood or tissue biopsies, urine testing offers a non-invasive, simple, and repeatable sampling alternative. However, clinical implementation remains limited by insufficient diagnostic accuracy and lack of standardized, multicenter validation. This review systematically summarizes reported urine biomarkers across various diseases, outlines detection technologies and performance, discusses current challenges, and provides perspectives for future development to facilitate the translation of urine-based diagnostics into clinical practice.