Evaluation of Serum Bladder Cancer Specific Nuclear Matrix Proteins - 1 levels in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Patients.

Abstract

Background: The most common type of bladder tumor found in its early stages is non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The diagnosis of bladder carcinoma is made using cytology and cystoscopy, and it is difficult for clinicians to make due to a lack of sensitivity and specificity. Biomarkers hold the promise of improving diagnostic and screening methods. Bladder cancer-specific nuclear matrix protein-1 (BLCA-1) has recently been identified as a novel marker for bladder cancer, because it is abnormally released in the blood of bladder cancer patients. We assess the usefulness of serum BLCA-1 levels as tumor markers in the diagnosis of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer Method: 50 patients and 30 healthy subjects were recruited, pathologically diagnosed at Damietta Cancer Institute, Damietta, Egypt. Subjects are divided into three groups: Ta non-muscle invasive bladder cancer group (Ta NMIBC) patients (n= 26), T1 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (T1 NMIBC) patients group (n= 24) and healthy subjects group (n= 30), serum samples were collected, and BLCA-1 levels measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were used to reveal the associations therein. Results: Significant increase in BLCA-1 levels in serum of NMIBC patients with more T1 levels elevation than Ta NMIBC, p < 0.001. Conclusion: We conclude that serum BLCA-1 detection has value in the diagnosis of NMIBC, with higher levels in T1 NMIBC than Ta NMIBC. As a result, BLCA-1 is expected to be a unique marker for detecting NMIBC patients.