DETECTION OF BLADDER CANCERS

摘要

The present invention generally relates to methods of screening for cancer. Methods of the invention involve establishing a cutoff level for a protein marker to provide a predetermined sensitivity for an assay, in which the cutoff level is indicative of the absence of cancer. The method can also involve establishing a cutoff level for two or more nucleic acid markers in which the nucleic acid markers increase the specificity of the assay without decreasing the sensitivity of the assay, and in which the cutoff level is indicative of the absence of cancer. Methods can further involve conducting an assay in a sample to determine a level of said protein marker and a level of said nucleic acid markers and identifying the sample as positive for cancer if the level of the protein marker and the nucleic acid markers are greater than their respective cutoff levels. In certain aspects of the invention, the nucleic acid markers include FGFR3, TWIST, and NID2. In certain aspects of the invention, the protein marker includes MMP2 or MMP9.