Home Test Detects Bladder Cancer

Previous studies have found that bladder cancer screening significantly reduces the risk of death from bladder cancer. Regular screening allows bladder cancers to be found early. Cytoscopy (a visual exam of the bladder) is considered the gold standard for diagnosing bladder cancer. However, cytoscopy can miss some bladder cancers. Now research reports that a home urine test can detect bladder cancer at an early stage and reduce the risk of bladder cancer deaths. A combination of the home urine test with cytoscopy may detect significantly more cancers than cytoscopy alone.

The study, presented at the 101st annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) in Atlanta, investigated the effectiveness of screening for bladder cancer with a home urine test (NMP22 BladderChek Test) manufactured by Matritech. The test includes chemical reagent strips that change color when placed in urine containing blood.

Researchers at the University of Rochester in New York, analyzed data from 1,575 men who performed the home urine bladder test for 2 weeks, 2 months apart. The data was compared with 509 unscreened patients with bladder cancer entered in the Wisconsin Cancer Reporting database in 1988. In the screened group, 21 participants were found to have bladder cancer. There were similar proportions of participants with aggressive cancer in the screened and unscreened groups.

The researchers found that 10 percent of the participants in the screened group developed aggressive, invasive bladder cancers, compared with 60 percent in the unscreened Wisconsin group. After a 14 year follow-up period, there were no bladder cancer deaths in the screened group. However, 20 percent of the unscreened group had bladder cancer deaths, with a survival time of about 1.8 years from diagnosis. Furthermore, the screened group had a significantly lower overall death rate at 43 percent, compared to a 74 percent death rate in the unscreened group.

"The presentations, and particularly the support from these highly respected clinicians, have delivered a compelling message about the benefits the NMP22 BladderChek Test can provide in standard practice from diagnosing and monitoring bladder cancer to its potential for saving lives and expense in screening people who are at risk for the cancer," says Stephen D. Chubb, Chairman and CEO of Matritech, in a news release.

REFERENCES:
1. Home urine testing cuts bladder cancer deaths, Reuters Health, May 29, 2006: http://digestive.healthcentersonline.com/newsstories/homeurinetesting
cutsbladdercancerdeaths.cfm?general=NL_DIGESTIVE

2. Studies Presented at American Urological Association Expand the Role of the NMP22 BladderChek Test. Matritech, News Release, May 24, 2006:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=84346&p=irol-newsArticle_print&ID=860302&highlight=