Tumoral markers in bladder cancer (Review)

• Published in: Experimental and therapeutic medicine Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 773
• Main Authors: Bratu-, Ovidiu, Marcu, Dragos, Anghel, Radu, Spinu, Dan, Iorga, Lucian, Balescu, Irina, Bacalbasa, Nicolae, Diaconu, Camelia, Savu, Cornel, Savu, Carmen, Cherciu, Alexandru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athens Spandidos Publications 01.07.2021; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd; D.A. Spandidos
• Subjects: Analysis; Biomarkers; Bladder cancer; Cancer; Diagnosis; DNA methylation; Identification and classification; Kinases; MicroRNAs; Mutation; Oncology, Experimental; Review; Tumor markers; Urine; Romania
• ISSN: 1792-0981; 1792-1015
• DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10205

Bladder tumors are frequently diagnosed urologie malignant diseases with an extremely high recurrence rate compared to other neoplastic tumors. Urothelial bladder carcinomas are mostly identified in their incipient form, as non-muscle invasive, but despite that, a third of them develop into aggressive recurrent disease. The diagnosis of bladder carcinoma at this moment is established using cytology and cystoscopy and is a great challenge for clinicians due to the lack of sensitivity. Urinary biomarkers could improve and enhance the diagnosis and screening techniques and determine a more accurate recurrence rate. However, bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease and the existence of a single marker test with reduced cost is unlikely; thus, until then, the use of a panel of markers to obtain valuable information is inevitable even though suboptimal for use. To improve this deadlock, new biomarker panels should be identified and prepared to equalize the cost-efficiency balance. The present paper is a literature review concerning the most commonly used tumor markers in urinary bladder cancer as well as the most commonly encountered genetic modifications in such patients. Key words: urothelial bladder carcinoma, urinary biomarkers, non-muscle invasive, cytology, cystoscopy