Enzyme measure helps detect bladder cancer

FORLI, Italy, Oct 25, 2005 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Italian scientists say measuring certain enzyme activity in urine shows promise for the detection of bladder cancer.

Researchers at Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital, Forli, Italy, found measuring levels of telomerase activity in urine appears useful for detection of bladder cancer in men.

The incidence of human bladder cancer has greatly increased, with more than 60,000 new cases diagnosed annually in just the United States, and now represents the 4th most common malignancy in men and the 10th most common in women.

At present, about 20 percent of patients die each year, but when the disease is diagnosed and treated in its early stage, the chances of survival are good.

Scientists said established approaches for detecting bladder cancer are either invasive or costly, or have limited sensitivity, highlighting the need for the development of a non-invasive, reliable test.

Maria Aurora Sanchini of Morgagni-Pierantoni Hospital and colleagues said the test they developed requires a small amount of urine; is non-invasive, inexpensive, and easy to perform and "represents a promising and potentially important contribution to the early diagnosis of bladder carcinoma, in particular for high-risk subgroups."

The study is detailed in the Oct. 26 issue of JAMA.

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