Flow cytometry for detection and evaluation of urinary bladder carcinoma.

Flow Cytometry (FCM) DNA assays of bladder irrigation specimens are now recognized as a clinically useful and reliable means of detecting and monitoring carcinoma of the bladder. This technique, which identifies carcinoma by the presence of an aneuploid population of cells, can be carried out on specimens obtained in an outpatient or hospital setting and is easily performed in any medium-sized laboratory. It is most sensitive to superficial and high grade tumors. Overall, nearly 80% of superficial carcinomas of bladder will have positive flow cytometry, comparing very favorably with conventional cytology. Until now, the widest clinical application of FCM has been in monitoring the conservative treatment of stage 0-1 flat and papillary carcinomas, but newly developed dual parameter measurements are capable of quantifying proliferative activity, oncogene expression, growth factor receptors, and other cellular features that may better characterize the biologic potential of these tumors and can be expected to aid in the selection and timing of treatment.