Urinary protein patterns in patients with uroepithelial tumours. Effect of surgery and radiotherapy

Albumin, transferrin and immunoglobulins A, G and M were determined in both serum and urine from 84 patients with uroepithelial tumours. There were 76 patients with bladder tumours, of which 19 had previously received radiotherapy and 51 were untreated, whereas the remaining 6 had required a urinary diversion with nephrostomy or cutaneous ureterostomy because of ureteric tumour obstruction. Eight patients with tumours situated in the renal pelvis or ureter were examined, seven of these eight patients could be examined both before and after surgical treatment. The changes in urinary protein patterns were compared with the results of various types of treatment of uroepithelial tumours. A significant reduction in urinary proteins was seen after successful treatment, or when the urinary flow was diverted so that it had no tumour contact.