Multiplex screening of 422 candidate serum biomarkers in bladder cancer patients identifies syndecan-1 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 as prognostic indicators

Urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) is the 9th most common cancer globally, but there are essentially no good biomarkers available for diagnosis, prognosis, staging or treatment selection. Prognostic staging markers would be highly desirable for fast-tracking the highest risk patients into imaging and treatment.

In this study serum was collected from, 10 non-UBC patients and 80 UBC patients divided into 4 UBC staging groups, and analyzed using 5 Olink panels. 422 proteins could be measured, and multivariate regression analysis was used to look for significant associations with UBC, and UBC stage/grade. No signficant markers that could discriminate between different stages of disease could be identified. However, 5 proteins were signficantly associated with urothelial bladder cancer (nectin-4, syndecan-1, T-cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor 1, macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 and matrilysin). These include both proteins that have previously been linked to UBC, as well as some novel candidates. When the levels of these markers were investigated in terms of patient survival, syndecan 1 and CSF-1 were significantly associated with reduced survival time.

While the failure to find staging markers was disappointing, the authors concluded that syndecan 1 and CSF-1 should be investigated further due to their highly prognostic value.