Purpose: To determine whether autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR) is detectable in the urine of patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder.
Materials and methods: We assayed the urine of 89 patients with bladder pathology and 28 normal controls for AMFR. A monoclonal antibody to AMFR was used.
Results: All patients with muscle-invasive TCC tested positive for AMFR. Autocrine motility factor receptor was detectable for 80% of superficial tumors, with a correlation between AMFR and tumor grade. Seventy-five percent of control urines tested negative.
Conclusions: Autocrine motility factor receptor is detectable in the urine of patients with TCC. Long-term follow-up and refinements in the assay should define the marker's utility for detection and prognosis.