CAN WE USE A MORNING URINE SAMPLE INSTEAD OF 24-HOUR URINE FOR THE DETERMINATION OF TUMOR-MARKERS IN EGYPTIAN BLADDER-CANCER

This study included 163 cases: 74 with bladder cancer, 19 with some no n-malignant urinary tract diseases and 70 normal healthy controls. 24- hour urines were collected and morning urine samples were taken betwee n 9 and 11 a.m. In these samples three tumor markers were determined, CEA by the kit supplied by Roche Diagnostica (CEA EIA Doumab 60), ferr itin by the Tandem-E Fer kit supplied by Hybritech and TPA by the Prol ifigen TPA IRMA kit supplied by Sangtec Medical. The mean values of TP A were higher in morning urine than 24-hour urine in the cancer and no n-cancer groups. Morning urine CEA was markedly higher than 24-hr urin e CEA in the non-cancer group and this was true for Fer in the cancer group. There was no marked difference in the sensitivities of the thre e markers in bladder cancer, but some elevation in the rate of false p ositive values of TPA in morning urine compared to 24-hour urine was f ound. A correlation coefficient of 0.54 was found for CEA in 24-hour a nd morning urine samples. For Fer and TPA the correlation coefficients were 0.68 and 0.76, respectively. In conclusion, 24-hr urine still is the ideal method of sampling for the determination of tumor markers i n urine of bladder cancer patients.