BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of the expression levels of bladder cancer-specific antigen-1 (BLCA-1) in the diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC). The study also determined the relationship between BLCA-1 expression levels and the clinical manifestation of BC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patient samples were derived from 66 cases of BC that presented at the Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, were recruited from April 2014 to May 2015, and 64 healthy control cases. Serum and urine BLCA-1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Urine BLCA-1 levels in BC patients were significantly higher than that found in healthy controls (P<0.01). BLCA-1 levels in the urine of patients without mucus membrane invasion (Ta) were significantly different from urine levels found in patients with mucus membrane invasion (T1–T4; P=0.022). BLCA-1 levels in the serum of patients without muscular coat invasion (Ta–T1) were significantly different than serum levels of patients with muscular coat invasion (T2–T4; P=0.042).

CONCLUSIONS: BLCA-1 is involved in the appearance and development of BC. Clinical detection of serum and urine BLCA-1 protein levels showed a high level of sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing BC. Further study of the functional expression of BLCA-1 levels as a valuable and novel diagnostic marker in BC is clearly warranted.

Keywords: Diagnosis, Tumor Markers, Biological