Is urinary soluble Fas an independent predictor of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer? A prospective chart study

To evaluate whether soluble Fas (sFas) in urine is an independent predictor of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

We performed a prospective chart review which included 128 subjects with NMIBC and 88 controls. The first morning voided urine sample (10-20 ml) was obtained from preoperative patients and controls. Expression levels of sFas in urine were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Clinical and pathological data, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) risk group category, follow-up data and urinary sFas values were gathered from each patient, and each prognostic outcome was evaluated.

sFas levels were significantly higher in the urine of patients with NMIBC than of those without NMIBC (p = 0.000). The level was significantly higher in cases with a higher stage or grade or high-risk and recurrent disease than in those with a lower stage or grade or low-risk and nonrecurrent disease (each p < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier estimates revealed a significant difference in time to recurrence based on sFas levels in the urine of the NMIBC patients (log-rank test; p = 0.000). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, EORTC risk group category (hazards ratio [HR] = 3.250, p = 0.000) and urinary sFas level (HR = 1.403, p = 0.015) were the independent predictors of NMIBC recurrence.

Our study indicated that urinary sFas assay results may help identify NMIBC patients at risk of tumor recurrence. These data can be used to design a future follow-up schedule and treatment strategy for NMIBC patients.