Detection of novel urine markers using immune complexome analysis in bladder cancer patients: A preliminary study

Abstract

Background/Aim: Little is known on urine biomarkers that are associated with malignant behavior in patients with bladder cancer (BC). Our aim was to identify BC-related factors in urine samples using our original method “immune complexome analysis”, based on detecting the immune complex (IC). Patients and Methods: Immune complexome analysis was performed using urine samples from 97 BC patients, including 67 with non-muscle invasive BC (NMIBC). Results: Eight IC-antigens were recognized as candidates for BC-related factors from 20,165 proteins. IC-serum albumin, -fibrinogen γ chain, -hemoglobin subunit α, -hemoglobin subunit β, -ceruloplasmin, and fibrinogen β chain were significantly associated with either pathological features and/or outcome. IC-ceruloplasmin was most widely associated with pathological features in all BC patients and lamina propria invasion and urinary tract recurrence in NMIBC. Conclusion: Based on detection of IC-antigens it was demonstrated that six IC-antigens, especially IC-ceruloplasmin, are potential urine biomarkers in BC.