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Urinary cytokeratin 20 as a marker for transitional cell carcinoma
D Rotem1, A Cassel, N Lindenfeld
1Hematology Laboratory, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
European Urology
|April 15, 2000
Summary
Detecting cytokeratin 20 (CK20) gene expression in urine offers a noninvasive method for monitoring transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) patients. This approach shows high sensitivity and specificity for bladder cancer follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder requires effective noninvasive monitoring tools.
- Current follow-up methods for TCC can be invasive and burdensome for patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of detecting cytokeratin 20 (CK20) gene expression in urine as a noninvasive marker for TCC follow-up.
- To assess the sensitivity and specificity of CK20 detection in urine for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
Main Methods:
- Urine samples were collected from 95 TCC patients and 27 healthy volunteers.
- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect CK20 gene expression in urine-derived RNA.
- CK8 was used as a control marker for epithelial cells.
Main Results:
- CK20 expression was detected in 86.7% of TCC patients versus 3.3% of healthy volunteers, yielding 96.7% specificity.
- Sensitivity for CK20 detection was 100% for high-grade (III-IV) TCC and 71-80% for lower grades.
- CK20 was detected in 9 out of 11 patients with a previous TCC diagnosis but negative current biopsy, with 4 experiencing recurrence within 6 months.
Conclusions:
- Urinary CK20 gene expression is a promising, noninvasive marker for monitoring TCC patients.
- Further research is needed to assess CK20's utility in nonmalignant urological conditions for screening purposes.