The clonogenic growth of cells derived from bladder barbotage in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a preliminary report.

Tumor cells obtained from bladder washings in 41 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and 15 control subjects were analyzed for their ability to produce cluster and/or colony formation in a tumor stem cell assay. In vitro cell growth was correlated with the presence of tumor at the time of bladder washing, tumor grade and treatment status. Of 34 bladder washings from patients with biopsy-proved transitional cell carcinoma 88 per cent produced cluster and/or colony formation. Specimens from patients not currently receiving intravesical chemotherapy at the time of bladder barbotage produced colonies in 54 per cent of the cases, compared to 25 per cent from patients receiving therapeutic or maintenance therapy. Higher grade tumors produced more viable cells at bladder barbotage but clonal growth rates were independent of histologic grade. We conclude that bladder barbotage may serve as a source of cells for chemotherapeutic drug testing in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Bladder washings also may be useful as a source of tumor cells for monitoring the in vivo growth potential of bladder cancer in the tumor stem cell assay.