Parc Taulí incorporates a non-invasive technique to detect relapses in patients undergoing bladder cancer

Parc Taulí has ​​incorporated the so-called urine test EpiCheck Bladder, to monitor patients undergoing high-grade bladder cancer, one of the most prevalent pathologies of urological tumors and with a high rate of relapse. The aim is to improve patient safety and comfort, while avoiding possible admissions and / or complications.

Patients diagnosed with bladder cancer should follow an ongoing surveillance protocol based on the risk of recurrence or progression of their disease. This protocol is usually performed by cystoscopy, an invasive procedure associated with certain complications and discomfort (bleeding, infections…) that is performed through the urethra, by inserting a medical device similar to a probe with a built-in camera.

At Parc Taulí, nearly 200 surgeries are performed annually on patients diagnosed with high-grade superficial bladder cancer, who could benefit from this technique, and an average of 300 patients are monitored. The test is performed on the instructions of professionals from the Urology Service in collaboration with professionals from the Pathological Anatomy Service.

El EpiCheck Bladder is a molecular study of advanced technology and high reliability, which is done on a urine sample. It is endorsed by the European Association of Urology in its latest clinical guidelines (2022). It can distinguish healthy cells from cancer cells and could prevent the invasive procedure of follow-up cystoscopies, thus ensuring an improvement in patient safety and comfort.

75% of bladder tumors are of the high-grade superficial type that are characterized by recurrence of recurrences and require surgical treatment. To monitor these patients, treatment (chemotherapy and / or immunotherapy) is performed together with two annual cystoscopies during the first two years and one cystoscopy per year from the third year of chronic disease control.

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