Determination of cathepsin D (Cat D) concentration in serum and urine may be useful in the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The present study included 54 healthy patients and 68 patients with bladder cancer, confirmed by transurethral resection or cystectomy. Cat D concentration was determined using a surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensor. Cat D concentration in the serum of bladder cancer patients was within the range of 1.3-5.59 ng/ml, while for healthy donors it was within the range of 0.28-0.52 ng/ml. In urine, the Cat D concentration of bladder cancer patients was within the range of 1.35-7.14 ng/ml, while for healthy donors it was within the range of 0.32-0.68 ng/ml. Cat D concentration may represent an efficient tumor marker, as its concentration in the serum and urine of transitional cell carcinoma patients is extremely high when compared with healthy subjects.
Keywords: bladder cancer; cathepsin D; surface plasmone resonance imaging biosensor; transitional cell carcinoma.