Diagnostic and Prognostic Non-Invasive Markers in Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a common malignancy with high recurrence rates and significant morbidity, necessitating accurate diagnostic and prognostic tools. Although cystoscopy and transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) remain reference standards, these approaches are invasive and limited by sampling errors and understaging. Consequently, there is growing interest in non-invasive biomarkers, including urine-based assays, blood-based markers, and imaging-derived parameters. Among these biomarkers, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), particularly with the Vesical Imaging Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS), has emerged as a robust non-invasive imaging biomarker for local staging and risk stratification. Recent evidence suggests that mpMRI plays a role in predicting treatment response and recurrence, particularly in the context of neoadjuvant therapy. This review provides a comprehensive overview of current non-invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in bladder cancer, with a particular emphasis on imaging biomarkers. We discuss their clinical utility, limitations, and future integration into multimodal decision-making frameworks.