Dr. Cookson on Ideal Bladder Cancer Biomarkers

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.