Comparison of BTA stat and NMP22 tests in the detection of bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the BTA (bladder tumour antigen) stat and urinary nuclear matrix protein (NMP22) tests in the detection of bladder cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The office-based qualitative BTA stat and the laboratory-based quantitative NMP22 tests were studied in the same urine samples obtained from 49 patients with a high suspicion of bladder cancer and 20 healthy subjects.

RESULTS

A tumour was identified in 36 patients after the cystoscopy. BTA stat demonstrated a sensitivity of 89%, which was superior to the sensitivity of 66.6% with the NMP22 test in detecting the bladder cancer (p < 0.02). The sensitivities for grade I tumours with BTA stat and NMP22 were 55.5% and 33.3%, respectively. The sensitivity of BTA stat was 100% for tumour categories except for the pTa and grade I tumours. No positive result was observed with both tests among the healthy subjects. The specificities for BTA stat and NMP22 were 78.7% and 69.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The BTA stat test was significantly more sensitive than the NMP22 test in the detection of bladder cancer. Although the sensitivity of BTA stat was not sufficient to replace cystoscopy, its ease and low cost may play a role in reducing the number of control cystoscopies, especially in patients with low risk of progression.