The GreenBladder Study: Early Detection of Bladder Cancer in Greenland Using a Urinary Biomarker

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Diagnostic Medicine

Background:

• Bladder cancer (BC) mortality in Greenland is high, suggesting delayed diagnosis.
• Limited access to cystoscopy in Greenland necessitates accessible diagnostic alternatives.
• Geographic and logistical challenges hinder timely BC detection and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of the Xpert Bladder Cancer Detection (XBCD) urinary biomarker test.
• To assess XBCD's utility as a diagnostic tool in the Greenlandic healthcare system.
• To determine XBCD's sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for BC detection.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving 198 patients referred for urological evaluation.
• Urine samples collected for XBCD testing prior to cystoscopy.
• Cystoscopy served as the reference standard for BC diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Seven BC cases were detected among 194 patients with valid XBCD results.
• XBCD demonstrated a sensitivity of 71.4% and specificity of 88.8%.
• The test achieved a negative predictive value of 98.8%.

Conclusions:

• XBCD shows potential as a triage tool for bladder cancer in low-prevalence settings.
• The test may aid in reducing unnecessary procedures and facilitating earlier BC detection.
• Findings are limited by the small number of detected bladder cancer cases.