[Molecular markers for the diagnosis of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer]

The diagnostic efficiency of oncomarkers, such as cytokeratins 8, 18 (TPA, TPS, UBC) and vascular endothelial growth factor, was evaluated to diagnose non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The serum and urinary levels of the markers were studied using enzyme immunoassay; their diagnostic properties were assessed by the ROC-analysis. Comparison of the groups of apparently healthy individuals, patients with chronic cystitis, and those with noninvasive bladder cancer showed that the oncomarkers might potentially serve as screening parameters of the early diagnosis of bladder cancer and, in a number of cases, permit the differential diagnosis with chronic cystitis.