Biomarkers for the detection of bladder cancer

In this subject review, a series of morphology-based and molecular markers were compared with urinary cytology for the detection of recurrent urotheli al neoplasia. Among the various biomarkers reviewed, the average published sensitivity and specificity for the Bard BTA test was 60% and 77%; the NMP2 2 Test was 67% and 72%; the telomerase assay was 77% and 85%; and the micro satellite assay was 89% and 100%. DNA ploidy measurements and immunoassays designed to detect keratins. proteins, hyaluronidase, growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, fibrinogen degradation products, cell cycle regulators, and molecular markers were also included. Although the performance feature s of these biomarkers have varied and the cytologic methods to which they h ave been compared have not been standardized, several of the procedures hav e received considerable support from urologists as assisting them in the ma nagement of their patients.