Effects of vitamin D (calcitriol) on transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder in vitro and in vivo.

Purpose: Vitamin D (calcitriol) has significant antiproliferative effects on various tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. In the clinical situation a major impediment to systemic administration of calcitriol is the side effect of hypercalcemia. To test the potential usefulness of calcitriol for bladder cancer treatment, we studied the antiproliferative effect of vitamin D on 2 human bladder cancer cell lines, 253j and T-24, in vitro.

Use of urine-based markers for detection and monitoring of bladder cancer.

Diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer present a difficult clinical problem. Urine cytology with confirmatory cystoscopy form the cornerstone of diagnosis at the present time. The subjectivity and low sensitivity of cytology led to the development of numerous tests as adjuncts to cystoscopy for the diagnosis and follow-up of bladder cancer patients.

Update on urine-based markers for bladder cancer. How sensitive and specific are the new noninvasive tests?

Urine cytology is still the most commonly used noninvasive test to diagnose bladder cancer. However, cytology's ability to detect low-grade bladder tumors is limited, and its results require interpretation by a pathologist, are not available immediately, and are subjective. Several noninvasive urine-based tests are now available for detection and follow-up of bladder cancer.