STUTTGART, GERMANY (UroToday) – Apoptotic DNA fragments in serum of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer are of prognostic relevance.

The authors compared 45 patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer and 45 patients with BPH. With the aim of RT-PCR, two DNA fragments were identified and found to be present in significantly higher levels in serum of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer compared to patients with BPH. Sensitivity was 96% and specificity 62%. Also, the apoptotic index was higher in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. There was no correlation with tumor stage according to TNM.

The authors concluded that the presence of apoptotic DNA fragments in serum of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer is a negative prognostic phenomenon.

Abstract #P7.1

Presented by J. Ellinger, MD, et al., at the 60th Annual Congress of the German Urological Association (DGU) – September 24 – 27, 2008 – Stuttgart, Germany

Reported by Christian Doehn, MD, a Contributing Editor with UroToday

UroToday – the only urology website with original content global urology key opinion leaders actively engaged in clinical practice.

To access the latest urology news releases from UroToday, go to:
www.urotoday

Copyright © 2008 – UroToday