Cancer Research Focuses on Tumor Markers in Genitourinary Cancers

Strategic Insights -

Researchers from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland have presented data on the increasing incidence of genitourinary cancers, including prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and testicular cancer. The team has highlighted the importance of tumor markers in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. According to the research, tumor markers such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer, and carbonic anhydrase IX and Ki67 for renal cell carcinoma, demonstrate high sensitivity but low specificity. Traditional testicular cancer markers, such as alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase, are routinely used to assess disease stage and prognosis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of patients diagnosed with genitourinary cancers has been increasing in recent years.
  • Tumor markers, such as PSA, carbonic anhydrase IX, and Ki67, have high sensitivity but low specificity in the diagnosis of genitourinary cancers.
  • Traditional testicular cancer markers, such as alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and lactate dehydrogenase, are routinely used to assess disease stage and prognosis in testicular cancer.
  • None of the tumor markers can replace cystoscopy in bladder cancer diagnosis.
  • Further research is needed to reduce treatment costs and enable more precise diagnosis of genitourinary cancers using new markers, including genetic and epigenetic ones.
  • The research was conducted by Bartosz Ros, Wojciech Kowalewski, Katarzyna Siekaniec, Magdalena Jakubowicz, Natalia Kuchenbeker, Adriana Dojs, and Julia Mierzwinska-Mucha from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland.

Statistics:

  • The number of patients diagnosed with genitourinary cancers has been increasing in recent years, but an exact percentage is not provided.
  • The sensitivity of tumor markers such as PSA, carbonic anhydrase IX, and Ki67 is not specified.
  • The specificity of traditional testicular cancer markers is not specified.
  • The number of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer who undergo cystoscopy is not provided.
  • The cost of treatment for genitourinary cancers is not specified.

Sources:

  • Clinical Relevance of Tumor Markers in Genitourinary Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment - a Literature Review. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 2025, 83.
  • Journal of Education, Health and Sport - http://www.ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/index
  • Kazimierz Wielki University - publisher of Journal of Education, Health and Sport
  • Bartosz Ros, Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
  • Wojciech Kowalewski, Katarzyna Siekaniec, Magdalena Jakubowicz, Natalia Kuchenbeker, Adriana Dojs, Julia Mierzwinska-Mucha - additional authors of the research