SENSITIVITY AND SPECIFICITY OF URINARY BLADDER CANCER ANTIGEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OF BLADDER TUMOR; A COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH URINARY CYTOLOGY

Cystoscopy and urinary cytology are currently the basis for diagnosis and follow-up of bladder tUlnors. Research to find a sensitive and specific tunlor TIlarker for diagnosis of bladder tunlor is actively underway, however, due to low sensitivity and high cost of cytology. This cross-sectional study was performed in 65 patients to evaluate \vhether urinary bladder cancer (lJBC) antigen level can predict the presence of active bladder tumor. In patients with inactive tumor, LfBC antigen level was detennined in addition to standard cystoscopy and cytology for follow-up. Patients with active tumor were subjected to standard treatment and LfBC antigen level determination. lJBC antigen levels were measured by ELISA, using nl0noclonal antibodies specific for UBC antigen. As a control group, UBC antigen level was also detennined in 65 persons who had been referred for urinalysis for other reasons. UBC antigen level more than 1 J.lg/L which was regarded as positive was found in 49.4~) of the patients. In control group, 96.9°~ had UBC antigen 1J.lg/L. Mean UBC antigen level in patients was 3.77 J.lg/L while it was 0.508 J.lg/L in controls (P 0.0001). Sensitivity of UBC antigen was 53.3~/o and its specificity was 40°A . Sensitivity and specificity of urinary cytology was 17 .3~/o and 88.20/0, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P 0.001). UBC antigen is 1110re sensitive than urinary cytology, although cytology still retains its priority in specificity. It is not yet recommended to replace lJBC antigen for cytology due to its low specificity and not favorable sensitivity