Objectives: To evaluate a combined analysis approach that involves cytologic evaluation and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for detecting cancer cells in voided urine samples using an automated scanning station.
Methods: Voided urine samples from 41 patients suspected of having transitional cell carcinoma were stained with May-Grünwald Giemsa stain, scanned for atypical or suspicious cells, destained, and hybridized with a mixture of fluorescent-labeled probes. Samples were tested using either the UroVysion probe or by a mix of chromosomes 3, 7, and 17 centromeric probes. A case was regarded as positive when at least one cell was abnormal in both aspects, morphology and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Patients were evaluated concomitantly by cytology, cytoscopy, and biopsy, if indicated.
Results: Overall, 26 samples were positive by combined analysis. Biopsy-proven transitional cell carcinoma was positive by combined analysis in all cases (100%) and in 13 cases (61.9%) by cytology (P = 0.0133). The advantage of the combined analysis was noted mostly in low-grade and superficial tumors for which the sensitivity of cytology reached 30% (P = 0.023) and 27.27% (P = 0.0133), respectively. Specificity was 100%.
Conclusions: Our results have shown that combined analysis for the presence of transitional cell carcinoma cells is a powerful tool, providing high sensitivity and specificity, and may offer a new scheme for bladder cancer management.