title: Diagnostic value of circulating tumor cell detection in bladder and urothelial cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnostic value and prognostic significance of circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection in patients with bladder cancer is controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to consolidate current evidence regarding the use of CTC detection assays to diagnose bladder and other urothelial cancers and the association of CTC positivity with advanced, remote disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies that investigated the presence of CTCs in the peripheral blood of patients with bladder cancer and/or urothelial cancer were identified and reviewed. Sensitivities, specificities, and positive (LR+) and negative likelihood ratios (LR-) of CTC detection in individual studies were calculated and meta-analyzed by random effects model. Overall odds ratio of CTC positivity in patients with advanced disease versus those with organ-confined cancer was also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall sensitivity of CTC detection assays was 35.1% (95%CI, 32.4-38%); specificity, LR+, and LR- was 89.4% (95%CI, 87.2-91.3%), 3.77 (95%CI, 1.95-7.30) and 0.72 (95%CI, 0.64-0.81). CTC-positive patients were significantly more likely to have advanced (stage III-IV) disease compared with CTC-negative patients (OR, 5.05; 95%CI, 2.49-10.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTC evaluation can confirm tumor diagnosis and identify patients with advanced bladder cancer. However, due to the low overall sensitivity, CTC detection assays should not be used as initial screening tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Micras Asias str., Goudi-Athens 115 27, Greece. msaouel@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Msaouel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutsilieris
mesh_terms: D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*