Limitations in the use of glutathione S-transferase P1 in urine as a marker for bladder cancer.
BACKGROUND
GST pi (GSTPl) is overexpressed in bladder cancer and desquamation of the tumour may produce detectable levels of urinary GSTPl which could be used as a marker for the early diagnosis of bladder cancer.


METHODS
A preliminary study in 27 transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) patients and 20 controls, using an ELISA methodl is presented here.


RESULTS
55.5% of TCC patients were positive for GSTP1, while all control samples were negative. Some of the GSTP1 positive cases also gave positive results for haematuria, which indicates that a limitation of this marker involves the contamination of the urine with erythocyte GSTP1. In 5 cases (18.5%) without haematuria detectable levels of GST pi were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies would be required to assess the advantages of this technique over clas sical cytology or as a complement to it, especially in patients in a phase of temporary negative haematuria.
Lafuente
A
A
Institute of Public Health, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain. alafuente@bell.ub.es
Rodriguez
A
A
Gibanel
R
R
Lafuente
M J
MJ
Alonso
M
M
Molina
R
R
Ballesta
A
A
Carretero
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000652:urine*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000652:urine*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; C496556:GSTP1 protein, human; D051549:Glutathione S-Transferase pi; D005982:Glutathione Transferase