July 06, 2000

DARIEN, IL

Bladder cancer may not get the attention that other cancers receive. Breast and cervical cancer in women, prostate cancer in men and lung cancer in both sexes have high profiles in the national media and receive the lion’s share of research funding.

But bladder cancer, one of the most commonly occurring cancers in the world, is not to be ignored. This year, an estimated 53,200 new cases will be diagnosed in the United States alone, and another 75,000 in Europe, according to the American Cancer Society. It is estimated that more than 2 million people worldwide are living with bladder cancer. More than 12,000 people in the United States will die from the disease, the ACS estimates. As with all cancers, early detection is crucial. The five-year relative survival rate is 93 percent when the disease is diagnosed at a localized stage.

A new tool now in development could be the key to early detection and treatment. Eichrom Technologies of Darien, IL, has licensed a novel and highly specific early bladder cancer detection technology created at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The company is developing a one-step Rapid Test using its new ATROSphere technology that data show will be significantly more accurate and specific than any other urine-based tests now available for detecting bladder cancer.

“We received excellent response at the recent American Urological Association meeting in Atlanta,” said Timothy Barder, Ph.D., Vice President of Research and Commercial Development at Eichrom. “Not only did two of the presentations on the bladder cancer marker receive awards for being the best in their category, but also investigators from around the world were interested or wanted to conduct clinical trials with us.” The technology was developed by Dr. Robert Getzenberg and his research group at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Getzenberg’s research has identified six bladder tissue-specific proteins (BLCA 1-6) from inside the nucleus of bladder cancer cells that are not found in other types of cancer such as prostate, breast, kidney or cervical.

In a study with 55 patients, BLCA-4 was found to be 96.4 percent sensitive and 100 percent specific for distinguishing patients with bladder cancer from those without the disease. BLCA-4 also was detected throughout the bladder in patients with bladder cancer, which indicates that it may be an early marker of the disease. If this proves true in clinical trials using larger populations, early detection of bladder cancer will be dramatically improved and significantly less invasive.

Plans are under way to enter into multi-site clinical trials in July, Barder said. The trial will be coordinated by Badrinath Konety, Ph.D., in the Department of Urology at the University of Pittsburgh. Traditional tests will be performed at the time of patient exam. The new BLCA-4 testing will take place later on at independent test sites. With the current timetable, Eichrom anticipates getting the product on the market the first or second quarter of next year.

The Rapid Test initially will be marketed to physicians and clinical laboratories, Barder said. But a consumer product, allowing self-testing at home, also is being envisioned. “The Rapid Test would fit well with consumer needs for ease, convenience and accuracy,” he said.