Long-term benefit of 5-aminolevulinic acid fluorescence assisted transurethral resection of superficial bladder cancer: 5-year results of a prospective randomized study.

Purpose: As shown in various studies 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) induces fluorescence of malignant and dysplastic bladder tissue and increases tumor detection rates by about 20%. However, data on the long-term benefits are sparse. Thus, the 5-year outcome data of a prospective randomized trial comparing patients who initially underwent bladder tumor resection (TUR) under standard white light or with ALA induced fluorescence were evaluated.

[Utilizing optical coherence tomography (OCT) for visualization of urothelial diseases of the urinary bladder].

Purpose: The technique of optical coherence tomography (OCT) has significantly improved over the last few years. This new diagnostic procedure allows imaging of tissue structure of the bladder wall during cystoscopy with high resolution.

Materials And Methods: The penetration depth of OCT is limited to 2.

[The impact of ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid)-fluorescence detection on the prognosis of superficial bladder cancer].

Purpose: Throughout the past years, several studies have shown that fluorescence cystoscopy with ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) improves the detection rate of superficial bladder tumors by approximately 20 % compared to standard white light cystoscopy. These results suggest a reduced rate of residual/recurrent tumors with the routine use of ALA fluorescence technique prior to bladder tumor resection. The present prospectively randomized study was performed to verify this hypothesis.

Cathepsins B, H, and L activities in urine of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Objectives: Cathepsin B, H, and L (CB, CH, CL) are lysosomal proteolytic enzymes that belong to the group of cysteine proteinases. The imbalance between proteinases and their inhibitors is believed to correlate with tumor progression and shortened patient survival. In transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) only limited data have been published.

Excretion of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in urine is associated with a high stage and grade of bladder carcinoma.

Objectives: To analyze the excretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 in the urine of patients with bladder cancer according to the stage and grade of tumor and to evaluate their diagnostic clinical validity. In numerous carcinomas, increased expression of MMPs is associated with a higher grade of malignancy and poor prognosis.

Methods: The study population included 44 controls without evidence of malignancy, 14 patients with cystitis, and 43 patients with Stage Ta-T1, 18 patients with Stage T2, and 10 patients with Stage T3-T4 bladder cancer.