Rapid Bladder Cancer Test

In Europe 415,000 people live with bladder cancer.1 The 5-year survival rates for patients diagnosed with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) are very good (~93%). However patients with NMIBC have a high risk of tumour recurrence and progression.

Patients are assigned a risk score (low, medium, high)3 based on the European Organisation for Research & Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) scoring system to help determine their likelihood of recurrence and/or progression.

White light cystoscopy and urine cytology are still considered the best way of patient surveillance after NMIBC.

Limitations are associated with both methodologies

White light cystoscopy demonstrates a lack of sensitivity for flat lesions

Cystoscopies are unpleasant and may cause discomfort for patients5

Guideline compliance varies, with significant numbers of patients not receiving all of the follow-up examinations suggested

Cytology has low sensitivity for low and intermediate grade tumours

The Solution

It has been proven that there is a statistically significant survival advantage found among those who received at least half of the care recommended in local monitoring guidelines.6

Urine markers have the capacity to add value to cystoscopy by

Providing information to support clinical decision making in follow-up of patients with low-/intermediate-risk NMIBC8

Identifying situations in which the use of molecular markers in high grade tumours may prove beneficial for patient diagnosis and surveillance9

Improving compliance through a combination of invasive and non-invasive surveillance methods to ensure that guidelines are followed may help to improve bladder cancer care.