Background: Bladder cancer constitutes 30% of all cancer patients, for whom a non-invasive marker is, required for the follow-up and diagnosis and follow up.
Aim: Evaluation of the potential prognostic significance of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG), and pS3 protein and urine telomerase in patients with bladder cancer.
Methods: For all patients, serum levels of OPG and pS3 protein were determined using ELISA and urine telomerase by PCR ELISA technique. Patients were then assigned into group1 (cystectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy) and group2 (TUR and chemoradiation).
Results: Serum OPG and p53 levels and urine telomerase were significantly higher in bladder cancer patients than in healthy individuals. (p < 0.0001). High serum OPG was associated with significantly lower OAS and DFS rates (p=0.001), and was correlated with advanced T stages (p<0.0001), high grades (p<0.0001) and presence of disease relapse (p=0.001).Serum p53 and urine telomerase did not show prognostic significance.
Conclusions: Serum OPG level may be used as a diagnostic tool and a prognostic variable in patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer. Future trials are needed to elucidate its therapeutic role in those patients.