A new method for determination of urinary tryptophan metabolites in bladder carcinoma

Abnormal tryptophan metabolism in patients with bladder carcinoma has been reported to have an extremely high correlation with future tumor recurrences. The methods for determination of these urinary metabolites have not been applicable for routine clinical use in the past. A new method is described using thin layer chromatography followed by fluorescent scanning with the SD 3000 spectrodensitometer. The range of recovery for the 6 tryptophan metabolites was from 96.9 to 106.7 per cent. In our study 31 per cent of the male and 50 per cent of the female bladder cancer patients had 2 or more abnormal tryptophan metabolites.