Abstract 3767: Detection biomarkers for squamous cell bladder carcinoma in a global setting

Abstract

Abstract Bladder cancer is the fifth common malignancy in the US, and internationally it is the second most common cause of mortality from genitourinary malignancies after prostate cancer. Current clinical practice and recommendations do not include early screening for prevention. The use of cystoscopy cannot become a routine screening method of early detection due to limitations, including cost, while cytology is specific but not sensitive. Biomarkers that screen for bladder cancer before it becomes invasive are an alternative viable solution if validated and made cost-effective. Studies have mostly looked at translational cell bladder cancer and not squamous cell bladder cancer that is much more common in many parts of Africa, including Egypt and related to Schistomiasis parasitic infection. The aim in this study was to validate the use of three FDA approved biomarkers of early detection of translational baldder cancer on squamous bladder cancer in Egypt. The NMP22, Telomerase, and CD44 test kits were used for urine sample from 60 squamous bladder cancer patients and 60 non-cancer population controls. The cases and the controls were recruited from the Urology and Nephrology Center at Mansora University in Mansora, Egypt. Patients were diagnosed by cytoscopy and cytology. There was a significant difference in mean NMP22, CD44 and Telomerase levels among cases compared to controls. However, when adjusting for age and sex, only NMP22 and Telomerase remained significant. There was no significant difference among bladder cancer patients for presence or absence of a mass or schistomiases infection. CD44 and NMP22 mean levels were higher among patients if they were with stages 3 or 4 of bladder cancer compared to stages 1or 2 but this did not reach statistical significance. NMP22 and Telomerase biomarkers had better specificity and sensitivity than CD44 in predicting bladder cancer as shown by the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves. In Conclusion, these biomarkers are satisfactory for detection of squamous cell bladder cancer, especially NMP22 and telomerase, and can become routinely used in the clinical setting in developing countries with high percentage of squamous cell bladder cancer. The next phase of biomarker validation for these assays among high-risk populations is warranted. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3767.