Usefulness of urinary nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) as a marker for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate an immunoassay for urinary nuclear matrix protein, NMP22, as a novel marker for urothelial cancer.


METHODS
NMP22 values were determined for 71 patients and 21 healthy volunteers. Each subject provided a single (3 voids) urine sample for analysis at the time of entry into the study. Each sample was assayed for levels of NMP22.


RESULTS
When the cut-off value was set at 10 U/ml, the positive rate for urinary NMP22 in bladder cancer was 37.8% (17 out of 45), whereas that in post-treatment cases and benign diseases was 30.8% (8 out of 26) compared to 14.3% (3 out of 21) for healthy volunteers. This cut-off value provided a sensitivity of 37.8% and a specificity of 80.9%. In the bladder cancer group, NMP22 levels were related to tumor size, shape, grade and stage.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the many reports that suggest NMP22 as a promising urinary marker for monitoring transitional cell carcinoma, this study does not support its usefulness as a substitute tool for urinary cytology in the control of bladder tumors.
Menendez
V
V
Department of Urology, Elche Universitary General Hospital, Miguel Hernandez University, Elche, Spain.
Filella
X
X
Alcover
J A
JA
Molina
R
R
Mallafre
J M
JM
Ballesta
A M
AM
Talbot-Wright
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000652:urine*; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000652:urine*; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C100379:nuclear matrix protein 22