CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF NUCLEAR-MATRIX-PROTEIN-22 (NMP22) IN URINE AS A NOVEL MARKER FOR UROTHELIAL CANCER

Objectives: This study was undertaken to determine the clinical useful ness of nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) as a novel urine marker for urothelial cancer, particularly, to substitute for voided-urine cytolo gy. Methods: NMP22 values were determined for 280 patients and 20 heal thy volunteers by NMP22 Test Kit based on an enzyme-linked immunosorbe nt assay. Results: When the cut-off value was set at 10 U/ml, the posi tive rate of urinary NMP22 for urothelial cancer was 80.9% (38/47), wh ereas that for posttreatment cases and benign diseases was 35.7% (74/2 07). When urinary NMP22 and voided-urine cytology were compared, the t est for urinary NMP22 showed higher sensitivity than cytology in patie nts with urothelial cancer. When urinary NMP22 values were determined pre- and postoperatively in patients with urothelial cancer, the posto perative value decreased in all patients, and were below the cut-off v alue in all except one patient. Conclusions: Urinary NMP22 is a useful diagnostic marker as a substitute for voided-urine cytology for the s urveillance of urothelial cancer.