Cytokeratin 20 Assay In Exfoliated Urothelial Cells Of Bladder Carcinoma Casese And Its Clinical Value

Objective To detect the cytokeratin 20 in exfoliated urothelial cells of bladder cancer cases and to evaluate its clinical significance.Methods Cytokeratin 20 expression was studied by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in voided urine samples from 35 cases of bladder cancer and 8 patients with benign urogenital diseases and 4 healthy volunteers. Results Cytokeratin 20 was detected in 26 of 35 bladder cancer voided urine samples (Sensitivity 74.29%), while urinary cytology was positive in 12 of 35 (Sensitivity 34.29%). The sensitivity between cytokeratin 20 assay and urinary cytology had significant difference (P<0.05). In 8 benign urogenital disease patients and 4 healthy volunteers, none could be detected expression of cytokeratin 20 (Specificity 100%). There were significant different positive expression rates in urine exfoliated cells from the bladder cancer patients with different grades or clinicopathological stages (P<0.05). Urine exfoliated cell cytokeratin 20 assay and urinary cytology had significant correlation(P<0.05).Conclusion RT-PCR assay to detect cytokeratin 20 in urine exfoliated cells would be a sensitive and specific methods in early diagnosis and monitoring of patients with bladder cancer.