Quantitative Loss of Heterozygosity Analysis for Urothelial Carcinoma Detection and Prognosis

Objectives To evaluate loss of heterozygosity (LOH) using microsatellite polymorphism analysis as a diagnostic and prognostic marker at the time of transurethral resection and as a follow-up marker preceding cystoscopic evidence of recurrence compared with cytology. Methods A total of 127 urothelial carcinoma (UC) patients were included. Tumors were staged and graded according to the International Union Against Cancer–tumor, node, metastases system and to the 2004 World Health Organization classification. LOH urinalysis was performed using 8 markers and marker-specific LOH thresholds. Thirty control samples, obtained from healthy volunteers, were used to determine the positive cut-off for each marker. Results LOH was significantly more sensitive than cytology in low-grade (64.8% vs 38.5%, P