The UBCTM test may be useful for diagnosis of recurred urinary bladder cancer

Previously we reported the usefulness of UBCTM test compared to urinary cytology for diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder in patients with hematuria. Now we evaluated the usefulness of the UBCTM test for diagnosis of recurred urinary bladder cancer. 146 patients with hematuria were included in our study. UNCTM test (IDL Biotech, Sweden) were assayed in mid-stream urine according to the ordinary assay protocol. 33 patients were confirmed as TCC by cystoscopic examination and underwent transurethral resection (Group A). Other patients had various benign urinary tract conditions (Group B). Samples were considered positive as the UBC concentration was greater than 12 μ g/L. We compared UBCTM level with previous value 6 months later in patients whom diagnosed with TCC. UBC levels were significantly different between group A (95.9±166.4 μ g/L) and group B (19.2±85.6 μ g/L) (p<0.001). Sensitivity for diagnosis of TCC was 78.8% (26/33) in UBC test and 39.4% (13/33) in cytology (p<0.05). Specificity for diagnosis of TCC was 82.5% (80/97) in UBCTM test and 100% (97/97) in cytology. UBCTM test was significantly more sensitive in stage Ta. T1 tumors (80 vs 20 %, p<0.05) ad in grade I (80% vs 10%, p<0.05) than cytology, UBCTM test showed tendency to be more sensitive as the stage and grade was higher (80% in Ta, 83.3% in T1 and 100% in T2, 80% in Grade I, 85.7% in Grade II and 100% in Grade III). We follow-up UBCTM test in 5 patients after 6 months. UBCTM levels and recurrence were correlated in 4 patient (80%). Follow-up levels of UBCTM were increased in two recurred patients and normalized in non-recurred patients. One patient showed increased level of UBCTM test but clinically no evidence of recurrence. Although Also our patients were small, UBCTM test may be useful method for detecting the recurrence of TCC and further follow-up is necessary