Usefulness of the $UBC^{TM}$ (Urinary Bladder Cancer) Test Compared to Urinary Cytology for Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder in Patients with Hematuria

혈뇨 환자의 방광암 진단에서 $UBC^{TM}$ (Urinary Bladder Cancer) 검사의 유용성

Purpose: Urinary cytology and cystoscopic exam are effective methods for diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma(TCC). But the former shows drawbacks such as the need for a well-trained examiner, and wide imprecision related to the variability of microscopic exam; the latter is an invasive method. $UBC^{TM}$ test detects the epitope on specific cytokeratin fragments released from epithelium of bladder cancer by immunoradiometric assay. We compared $UBC^{TM}$ test with urinary cytology for diagnosis of TCC to evaluate the utility of $UBC^{TM}$ test. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four patients with hematuria were included in our study. $UBC^{TM}$ tests (IDL Biotech, Sweden) were assayed in mid-stream urine according to the ordinary assay protocol. Nineteen patients were confirmed as TCC by cystoscopic examination and underwent transurethral resection (Group A). Other patients had various benign urinary tract conditions (Group B). Samples were considered positive as the $UBC^{TM}$ concentration was greater than $12{\mu}g/L$. Results: $UBC^{TM}$ levels were significantly different between group A ($95.9{\pm}166.4\;{\mu}g/L$) and group B ($19.2{\pm}85.6{\mu}g/L$) (P<0.001). Sensitivity for diagnosis of TCC was 89.5% (17/19) in UBC test and 47.4% (9/19) in cytology (p<0.05). Specificity for diagnosis of TCC was 81.5% (53/65) in $UBC^{TM}$ test and 100% (65/65) in cytology. $UBC^{TM}$ test was significantly more sensitive in stage Ta, $T_1$ tumors (84.6 vs 38.5%, p<0.05) and in grade I (83.3% vs 16.7%, p<0.05) than cytology. $UBC^{TM}$ test showed a tendency to be more sensitive as the grade was higher (83.3% in Grade I, 90% in Grade II and 100% in Grade III). Conclusion: $UBC^{TM}$ test could be a useful method in distinguishing TCC from other benign genitourinary diseases. Moreover, $UBC^{TM}$ test could be an especially valuable marker for diagnosis of TCC in patients with early TCC of low grade TCC compared to urinary cytology. Therefore, mbined use of $UBC^{TM}$ test in association with cytology is helpful to overcome the limited sensitivity of cytology.

목적: 요세포검사와 방광경검사는 방광이행상피세포암을 진단하는데 유용한 방법이다. 그러나 요세포검사는 숙련된 검사자가 필요하고 현미경검사상 다양한 해석이 가능할 수 있고 방광경검사는 침습적인 방법이다. $UBC^{TM}$ 검사는 방광암의 상피세포로부터 방출되는 특정한 cytokeratin의 분절에 대한 에피토프를 검출하는 면역방사계수측정법이다. 우리는 방광이행상피세포암의 진단에서 요세포검사와 $UBC^{TM}$ 검사를 비교하여 $UBC^{TM}$ 검사의 유용성을 알아보았다. 대상 및 방법: 혈뇨를 주소로 내원한 84예를 대상으로 중간뇨를 이용하여 $UBC^{TM}$ 검사 (IDL Biotech, Sweden)를 시행하였다. 19예는 방광경검사와 경요도방광종양절제술로 방광이행상피세포암으로 진단되었고(암환자군), 나머지례는 대조군으로 하였다. $UBC^{TM}$ 검사상 결과가 $12{\mu}g/L$ 이상인 경우를 양성으로 하였다. 결과: UBC 검사 결과는 암환자군과 대조군에서 각각 $95.9{\pm}166.4{\mu}g/L$ 과 $19.2{\pm}85.6{\mu}g/L$ (p<0.001)로 의미있는 차이를 보였다. 방광이행상피세포암에 대한 UBC 검사와 요세포검사의 민감도는 각각 89.5% (17/19), 47.4% (9/19) (p<0.05)였고, 특이도는 각각 81.5% (53/65)와 100% (65/65)였다. $UBC^{TM}$ 검사는 stage Ta, $T_1$ (84.6 vs 38.5 %, p<0.05)과 grade I (83.3% vs 16.7%, p<0.05)에서 요세포검사보다 더 유의하였다. $UBC^{TM}$ 검사의 결과는 세포분화도가 더 나빠질수록 증가하는 경향을 보였다 (Grade I : 83.3%, Grade II : 90%, Grade III : 100%). 결론: $UBC^{TM}$ 검사는 다른 비뇨기과적 질환과 방광이행상피세포암을 구별하는데 유용한 방법으로 사료된다. 특히 $UBC^{TM}$ 검사는 초기 방광이행상피세포암과 세포분화도가 좋은 방광암을 진단하는데 있어 간편하고, 비침습적이며 요세포 검사보다 높은 민감도를 갖는 것으로 분석되어 요세포검사의 낮은 민감도를 보완하는 유용한 선별검사의 하나로 선택하여도 좋을 것으로 사료된다.