THE IMPORTANCE URINARY GLYCOSAMINOGLYCAN AS A MARKER FOR SUPERFICIAL BLADDER-TUMORS

Urinary glycosaminoglycan/creatinine ratio (GAG/Cr) was determined in 42 patients with superficial bladder tumors (before and after the trea tment) and in 34 healthy subjects. Before the treatment, the mean GAG/ Cr ratio in patients group was not significantly different from the co ntrol group's figure (11.65 +/- 3.25 and 10.11 +/- 2.67). However, com parison of urinary GAG levels of T-1, and Grade III tumors with the co ntrol group revealed statistically significant results (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively), All patients were previously operated by tran surethral resection (TUR) and then intravesical chemotherapy applied [ (BCG (n:20), 4-epidoxorubicin (n:12), interferon ar-l (n:10)]. Three m onths after the treatment, urinary GAG levels were determined in 19 of the 24 patients whose pretreatment urinary GAG levels were higher tha n the control group, tumor completely remitted and their urinary GAG e xcretion decreased. The tumor of the three, gradually progressed and t heir GAG excretions were normal. The two hadn't any tumor mass and the ir urinary GAG excretion was higher than the pretreatment levels. The remaining 18 patients didn't show any clinical modification and their urinary GAG excretion did not differ from the control's and pretreatme nt levels. The results indicated that this test can be used as a nonin vasive adjunct procedure in the follow up of patients with bladder tum ors, and that urinary GAG level can not be considered as an ideal mark er for bladder tumor.