TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR AND TISSUE POLYPEPTIDE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN LEVELS IN MONITORING BLADDER-CANCER

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen ep itope M3 (TPS) were monitored monthly in bladder cancer patients who u nderwent transurethral resection of tumor (TURT). The mean TNF level w as low before the operation and indicated untreated transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Those levels increased significantly after T URT, and decreased in 80% of the patients prior to the clinical redete ction of the disease. There was no specific trend in the TPS levels af ter the TURT. The increases in the marker levels due to recurrence wer e not significant enough in view of the serum TPS fluctuations, which were not correlated to treatment. Serum TNF levels were indicative in the follow-up of bladder cancer, while TPS monitoring was of limited v alue.