A Novel Multiplexed Test to Detect, Predict, and Monitor Bladder Cancer

Hematuria (blood in urine) may occur in up to 10% of the general population and results in costly evaluation to ensure it is of no consequence, i.e., no bladder cancer (BCa) is present since hematuria is typically the initial sign of BCa. Furthermore, 75% of patients with newly diagnosed BCa have non-muscle-invasive disease (NMIBC), which has a very high recurrence rate (>70%). Because of this, it is recommended that the patients have adjuvant intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation to reduce this risk. Despite BCG treatment, up to 50% of patients fail to respond and 20% progress to muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) mandating more radical treatment (i.e., cystectomy - removal of the urinary bladder). Moreover, the delay in radical treatment can negatively impact survival rates, hence, a test that could predict treatment response to intravesical BCG, ensuring the right patient, gets the right treatment at the right time is urgently required. To date, no such test is available. Our group has developed and tested a multiplex immunoassay towards a BCa signature with extremely encouraging results in subjects evaluated for hematuria and in subjects destined to be treated with BCG. This research will open the door for improving on the non-invasive methods for detecting BCa and predicting treatment response as such it will have a marked impact on patient care.