Accurate Quantification of Residual Cancer Cells in Pelvic Washing Reveals Association with Cancer Recurrence Following Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy.

Purpose: Bladder cancer recurrence following cystectomy remains a significant cause of bladder cancer specific mortality. Residual cancer cells contribute to cancer recurrence due to tumor spillage or undetectable preexisting micrometastatic tumor clones. We detected and quantified residual cancer cells in pelvic washing using ultradeep targeted sequencing.