Method Development of an Early Detection Biomarker Panel for Bladder Cancer

Abstract

There is a direct need for a non-invasive procedure for the diagnosis of bladder cancer (BC) in patients. A method was developed for uncovering urinary proteomic differences between healthy controls and bladder cancer patients through comparative Shotgun Proteomics. This preliminary result was then confirmed through quantitative and targeted Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry to identify a final panel involving 54 peptides that were differentially expressed in the sample population. Univariate and multivariate machine learning analyses were conducted to develop a biomarker panel that properly differentiates between sample populations regarding sensitivity, specificity, and other clinical biomarker parameters, performing better than current FDA-approved BC biomarkers Nuclear Matrix Protein 22 (NMP22) and Bladder Tumor Antigen (BTA). The development of this biomarker panel signals a step forward in non-invasive diagnostic procedures for the diagnosis of bladder cancer in patient urine samples.