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Dr. Cookson on Ideal Bladder Cancer Biomarkers
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No one biomarker is effective for all types of bladder cancer, says Michael Cookson, MD, a professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
No one biomarker is effective for all types of bladder cancer, says Michael Cookson, MD, a professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
Because of the heterogeneous nature of bladder cancer, a combination of tests based on risk stratification are necessary to effectively manage the disease, Cookson says. The identification of each type of bladder cancer presents a unique challenge, says Cookson.
Non-invasive, low grade, low-stage bladder cancer requires a biomarker that is very specific to reduce the burden in follow-up and the number of cystoscopy intervals required, wile higher-grade bladder cancer, requires biomarker tests that are highly sensitive, Cookson says.
Combining biomarkers that are both sensitive and specific is ideal, says Cookson.
