EXPRESSION OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL MARKERS (PCNA, KI-67, 486P AND P53)ON PARAFFIN SECTIONS AND THEIR RELATION TO THE RECURRENCE RATE OF SUPERFICIAL BLADDER-TUMORS

We present a retrospective study using four different immunohistochemi cal markers (PCNA, Ki-67, 486p and p53) on paraffin sections from 104 selected cases with primary superficial transitional cell carcinomas o f the bladder (59 cases pTa, 45 cases pT1, 40 cases G1, 64 cases G2). 53 of the 104 patients experienced recurrence of their bladder lesion, while 51 remained free of tumor. The distribution of staging, grading and multifocality was comparable in both groups of patients. Overall, the tumors that recurred had a significantly higher proportion of lab eled cells fur PCNA (p less than or equal to 0.0001), Ki-67 (p less th an or equal to 0.006) and 486p (p less than or equal to 0.0001). The l atter antigen proved to be the most reliable marker. A less significan t difference in staining pattern was found for p53 (p less than or equ al to 0.01). Evaluating the predictive value of the various antibodies separately for the groups with G1 vs, G2 carcinomas and pTa vs. pT1 t umors revealed a lower significance for all antibodies. The technique of immunostaining on paraffin sections facilitates further retrospecti ve studies on archival material, These markers may provide additional information about the probability of recurrence of superficial bladder tumors. But at the moment they should only be utilized in selected ca ses.