Urinary NMP22 for the detection of recurrence after transurethral resection of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: experience on 137 patients.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) test in the management of patients after transurethral resection (TUR) of recurrent transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

METHODS

The NMP22 test was performed in 137 patients: in 42 patients, a bladder recurrence was detected by cystoscopy and histologically confirmed; 95 patients were recurrence-free at cytology and cystoscopy performed at least 3 months after TUR.

RESULTS

In patients with tumoral recurrence, the mean NMP22 value was 54.8 U/mL. The false-negative rate was 28.5%. In recurrence-free patients, the mean NMP22 value was 22.8 U/mL. The specificity of the NMP22 test was 61%. Higher NMP22 mean values (29.6 versus 15.8 U/mL) were found in patients who underwent intravesical chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite its good sensitivity, the NMP22 test cannot be adopted as a routine tool in the surveillance after TUR of patients with superficial bladder cancer because of its low specificity.