R&D Areas | Oncology | Bladder Cancer

Cancer of the urinary bladder is a common genitourinary disease, and an estimated 63,210 new cases and 26,590 deaths were predicted in 2005 in the USA. Most malignant disease of the urinary bladder is classified histologically as urothelial cancer, whereas only a few are adenocarcinomas, squamous carcinomas, or other histological types. Due to its high recurrence rates, the necessity of repeated screening for reappearance demonstrates the urgent need for novel biomarkers as alternatives to invasive standard procedures.

We identified a diagnostic biomarker pattern of 22 polypeptide masses for urothelial cancer. Prediction models based on these polypeptides correctly classified all samples of urothelial carcinoma (sensitivity 100%) and all healthy samples (specificity 100%). Correct identification of patients with urothelial cancer from those with other malignant and non-malignant genitourinary disease ranged from 86% to 100%.We identified a diagnostic biomarker pattern of 22 polypeptide masses for urothelial cancer. Prediction models based on these polypeptides correctly classified all samples of urothelial carcinoma (sensitivity 100%) and all healthy samples (specificity 100%). Correct identification of patients with urothelial cancer from those with other malignant and non-malignant genitourinary disease ranged from 86% to 100%.

Figure 1: Compilation of data sets to disease- (malignant or benign) and stage-specific (invasive or superficial tumors) compiled data sets (upper Panels) enables statistical biomarker definition. Up-regulation (lower Panels, white arrows) as well as down-regulation (lower Panels, dashed arrows) of specific-biomarkers according to disease tumor stage can be observed.