Epidermal growth factor in urine from patients with urinary bladder tumors.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentration and 24-hour excretion in urine were measured with a radioimmunoassay in 18 patients previously treated for various types of urinary bladder tumors and a comparable control group of 18 normals. The median concentration of EGF in urine from the patients was 1.50 nmol/l and from normals 3.03 nmol/l. The median 24-hour excretion of EGF in urine from the patients was 1.96 nmol and from normals 3.33 nmol. These differences between patients and normals were statistically significant (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.005) although there was an overlap in individual values of EGF concentration and excretion in urine from patients and normals. This study suggests that urothelial neoplasia is related to a low concentration and excretion of EGF.