Autocrine motility factor receptor as a possible urine marker for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR) is detectable in the urine of patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.


METHODS
We assayed the urine of 89 patients with bladder pathology and 28 normal controls for AMFR. A monoclonal antibody to AMFR was used.


RESULTS
All patients with muscle-invasive TCC tested positive for AMFR. Autocrine motility factor receptor was detectable for 80% of superficial tumors, with a correlation between AMFR and tumor grade. Seventy-five percent of control urines tested negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Autocrine motility factor receptor is detectable in the urine of patients with TCC. Long-term follow-up and refinements in the assay should define the marker's utility for detection and prognosis.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000652:urine*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D060285:Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000032:analysis*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; C555000:AMFR protein, human; D060285:Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases