Patent ID: 8609343

Claim:
A method of detecting the presence of, or an increased risk of, a bladder cancer in a subject, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a biological sample from the subject comprising genomic DNA from the subject's bladder; and b) testing the genomic DNA using a DNA methylation assay by detecting or measuring the methylation status of at least three genes therein selected from the group of genes consisting of MYO3A, CA10, NKX6-2, SOX11, DBC1, NPTX2; c) determining the methylation status of the genes tested in step b) in a control sample comprising genomic DNA from normal bladder; d) comparing the methylation status of the genes tested in step b) to the methylation status of genes tested in step c) to determine whether the methylation status of the one or more of the genes determined in step b) is at least 10% higher than the methylation status determined for the genes tested in step c); wherein if the methylation status of one or more of the genes tested in step b) is at least 10% higher than that of one or more genes tested in step c), then the subject has, or has an increased risk of having, bladder cancer as compared to subjects that do not exhibit such a methylation status in at least one of the genes so tested.