UTILITY OF A URINE-BASED DNA METHYLATION TEST FOR SURVEILLANCE OF NON-MUSCLE INVASIVE BLADDER CANCER: A PILOT STUDY

• Published in: Urologic oncology 2024-03, Vol.42, p.S50-S51
• Main Authors: Seyedian, Sanam Ladi, Moghadam, Farshad Sheybaee, Hajian, Simin, Ghoreifi, Alireza, Djaladat, Hooman, Schuckman, Anne, Liang, Gangning, Daneshmand, Siamak, Piatti, Paolo, Chew, Yap Ching, Jara, Benjiamin, Sanossian, Lucy, Yamada, Taikun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1078-1439; 1873-2496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2024.01.156

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common urinary tract cancer with a variable clinical course. With frequent recurrence, cystoscopy and urine cytology are routinely employed during follow-up of patients with a history of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Although there are multiple FDA approved urine-based tests for BC detection and surveillance, diagnostic accuracy of these urine-based assays is still suboptimal, especially in the surveillance setting. Here, we explore the feasibility of a newly developed urine-based DNA methylation test for detection of recurrence in NMIBC. We included patients undergoing blue-light surveillance cystoscopy for NMIBC between July 2019 and August 2022. Patient were required to have a prior diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma. Urine samples were collected at each surveillance cystoscopy as well as before and after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Samples were analyzed with Bladder CARE, a urine-based assay that measures methylation levels of 3 bladder cancer specific biomarkers (TRNA-Cys, SIM2, and NKX1-1) and two internal control loci using methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes coupled with qPCR. Results are reported as Bladder CARE Index (BCI) score and categorized as “positive” (BCI>5), “high risk” (2.5