Validation of RiskCheck Bladder Cancer ©, Version 5.0 for Risk-Adapted Screening of Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the strength of the online tool RiskCheck Bladder Cancer©, version 5.0 (RCBC) for early detection of bladder cancer (BC). Materials and Methods: RCBC was evaluated retrospectively based on the data of 241 patients, of which 141 were suffering from BC. Statistical analysis was performed by descriptive statistics, nonparametric group comparison, classification tree analysis and ROC analysis. Results: ROC analysis of the risk classification showed a sensitivity of 71.6%, a specificity of 56.5%, a positive predictive value of 67.8%, a negative predictive value of 52% and an accuracy of 63.5%. BC risk factors ranked by importance are time of smoking (p < 0.0001), gender (within the nonsmoking group: p < 0.009), occupational toxin exposure (within the group <35 years of smoking: p < 0.048) and amount of consumed cigarettes resulting in a 95% association with BC (within the group >35 years of smoking: p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The high predictive power of RCBC for the identification of asymptomatic patients living under risk could be demonstrated.

The contemporary role and impact of urine-based biomarkers in bladder cancer

“…For example, Vickers et al showed in a study which incorporated data from the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian (PLCO) trial that screening for bladder cancer can be optimized when patients with elevated risk for bladder cancer are included in screening trials ( 3 ). Moreover, risk stratification tools such as the RiskCheck Bladder Cancer © which showed a high predictive power for the identification of asymptomatic patients living under risk of developing bladder cancer, can help to improve detection rates compared with the general population ( 4 ). It is important to identify patients, who are at elevated risk of harbouring bladder cancer due to smoking history, gender, age, exposure to bladder cancer inducing substances.…”

“…Cystoscopy and adjunct to it the urine cytology, is currently the gold standard for the detection of bladder cancer, especially in patients with symptoms for bladder cancer such as haematuria. There is a limitation for the cystoscopy in the detection of flat lesions while the detection of carcinoma in situ (CIS) is the main domain of the urinary cytology ( 4 ). During the last years many urinary markers have been developed with the aim to identify bladder cancer before the lesion is visually detectable.…”

Prognostic Importance of the Risk-check Examination (RISIKOCHECK®) for Patients with Bladder Cancer

“…RC makes it possible to diagnose tumors early before symptoms occur. (3,4) Studies of RC have aimed to diagnose and treat tumors early by identifying the risk group. However, no risk estimation survey in which risk factors in patients with bladder cancer are evaluated together has been performed.…”