Predicting Bladder Cancer Recurrence with Bladder EpiCheck After BCG Treatment

What is it about?

This study evaluates the performance of Bladder Epicheck (BE) in predicting tumor recurrence and BCG failure in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients treated with BCG between 2018 and 2021. The prospective study included 65 patients, with urine samples collected before and after BCG induction for BE analysis. Logistic binary regression assessed the association between clinical/pathological variables and BE results with recurrence/BCG failure. The findings reveal significant associations between post-BCG cystoscopy, BE results, and EpiScore value variations with tumor recurrence and BCG failure. This study produced a nomogram that outperformed CUETO risk tables in predicting bladder cancer events. The results suggest that post-BCG BE status and EpiScore variations can identify high-risk patients, potentially impacting disease management and treatment strategies.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This study investigates the efficacy of the Bladder Epicheck (BE) test in predicting tumor recurrence and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) failure in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after BCG induction therapy. This is significant as NMIBC patients face a substantial risk of recurrence and progression, making early identification of those at higher risk crucial for timely intervention and improved management strategies. Key Takeaways: 1. This study demonstrates that post-BCG BE test results and variations in EpiScore values are significantly associated with the likelihood of tumor recurrence and BCG failure, suggesting that these markers could be used to identify high-risk patients early. 2. The research reveals that a predictive model incorporating BE test results, post-BCG cystoscopy findings, and EpiScore variations outperforms traditional risk tables, providing a more accurate assessment of recurrence risk. 3. Findings suggest that the BE test could refine current surveillance techniques, offering a potential tool for better management and treatment decision-making for patients undergoing BCG therapy for NMIBC.