Bladder cancer (BC) recurrence is one of the primary clinical problems encountered by patients following chemotherapy. However, the mechanisms underlying their resistance to chemotherapy remain unclear. Alteration in the pattern of membrane proteins (MPs) is thought to be associated with this recurrence outcome, often leading to cell dysfunction. Since MPs are found throughout the cell membrane, they have become the focus of attention for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Identifying specific and sensitive biomarkers for BC, therefore, requires a major collaborative effort. This review describes studies on membrane proteins as potential biomarkers to facilitate personalised medicine. It aims to introduce and discuss the types and significant functions of membrane proteins as potential biomarkers for future medicine. Other types of biomarkers such as DNA-, RNA- or metabolite-based biomarkers are not included in this review, but the focus is mainly on cell membrane surface protein-based biomarkers.
Keywords: bladder cancer; membrane proteins; protein biomarker; targeted therapy.