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Bladder cancer was diagnosed in 79 patients. "We found that the NMP22 test is a useful adjunctive tool in the evaluation of patients at risk for bladder cancer and that it identified several malignancies missed by initial cystoscopy. Specificity of the NMP22 test was lower than for cytology (85.7 percent vs. 99.2 percent), but sensitivity was significantly greater (55.7 percent vs. 15.8 percent), with test results available during the patient visit," the authors write. "The proteomic marker detected 4 cancers that were not visualized during initial cystoscopy, including 3 that were muscle invasive and 1 carcinoma in situ." According to the article, the average Medicare reimbursement for voided cytology is approximately $56, compared with $24 for the NMP22 point-of-care assay.

"In conclusion, the NMP22 assay may be a useful adjunct to cystoscopy for diagnosing bladder cancer. Studies in different patient populations are necessary to further define the role of this assay in patients with risk factors and symptoms suggestive of possible bladder cancer," the researchers write.

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Contact: Stephanie Dedeaux
713-792-0655
JAMA and Archives Journals
15-Feb-2005