Diagnostic value of the UCA1 test for bladder cancer detection: a clinical study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficiency of the UCA1 test as a diagnostic tool for the detection of bladder cancer. METHODS: Between October 2009 and December 2011 the UCA1 test was performed on collected urine samples from 162 patients divided into screening and follow-up groups, based on the absence or presence of prior bladder cancer. The test performance was then evaluated in each group and compared to cystoscopy and urinary cytology. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for the UCA1 test were 70, 70.7, 75.6 and 64.5%, respectively. We observed no difference in performance for tumours of higher grade or stage, but sensitivity was increased in the screening population compared to patients under follow-up (83.9 vs. 59%). The UCA1 test successfully detected all 7 cases of isolated carcinoma in situ and was more sensitive in this particular setting than cystoscopy or urinary cytology. CONCLUSION: The efficiency of the UCA1 test for the detection of primary and recurring bladder cancer in our study was lower than previously reported. We confirmed the role of UCA1 as a possible adjunct to cystoscopy and cytology when a primary bladder cancer is suspected, but its role in the follow-up of recurring tumours remains limited. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of the UCA1 test in the early detection of carcinoma in situ lesions.