Novel mRNA-based Urine Test for Bladder Cancer in Spinal Cord Injury Individuals

There is a novel test available (GeneXpert® Bladder Cancer Detection, Cepheid International, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) for the measurement of mRNA bladder tumor markers in the urine. The diagnostic accuracy of this test has been investigated in non-SCI individuals with symptoms suspicious for bladder cancer. The test showed high sensitivity and specificity values and is thus a promising diagnostic or screening tool.. However, the diagnostic accuracy of the test has not yet been investigated in SCI individuals.

The primary objective of the proposed study is to investigate whether urine mRNA tumor marker levels in spinal cord injury individuals with symptoms and findings suspicious for bladder cancer are a discriminator between individuals suffering from bladder cancer and those not suffering from cancer.

Individuals presenting with symptoms suspicious of bladder cancer will undergo ultrasonic and cystoscopic examination of the bladder. An urine sample will be taken, and the bladder will be flushed for collecting a bladder fluid sample. In patients with bladder wall findings suspicious of cancer, a bladder wall biopsy will be taken, according to clinical standard practice. The bladder fluid and the bladder wall biopsy will be submitted for cytology and histopathology examination, respectively. Tumor mRNA levels will be measured in the urine sample.