A comparison between microsatellite analysis and cytology of urine for thedetection of bladder cancer

We have studied, in a blinded fashion, cytology and microsatellite analysis on urine sediments of 143 Chinese with or without bladder lesions. Microsa tellite analysis succeeded in all 143 individuals, while cytology could not be performed on 42 subjects due to insufficient urine samples. Both micros atellite analysis and routine urine cytology succeeded in 81 bladder cancer patients. Seventy-three patients (90%) were identified by microsatellite a nalysis, while only 41 patients (51%) were identified by cytology. However, four patients were identified by routine cytology but not by microsatellit e analysis. Our results proved that microsatellite analysis is more sensiti ve than routine cytology but the two methods are complementary to each othe r. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.