V. Ravery et al., PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR-RECEPTOR, T138 AND T43 EXPRESSION IN BLADDER-CANCER, British Journal of Cancer, 71(1), 1995, pp. 196-200
Tumour-associated markers defined by monoclonal antibodies have proven
useful to phenotype bladder tumours. In order to evaluate the prognos
tic value of such markers, we performed an immunohistochemical study o
n 57 transitional cell carcinomas (23 infiltrative and 34 superficial
tumours) and ten healthy bladders using monoclonal antibodies against
the external domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and
against the tumour-associated antigens T43, 19A211 and T138. Immunohi
stochemistry was performed on frozen sections using a two-step alkalin
e phosphatase method. The staining pattern obtained with each antibody
was analysed according to the TNM classification, and results were an
alysed according to the subsequent clinical course. 19A211 preferentia
lly stained superficial tumours, and T43, T138 and EGFR preferentially
stained invasive tumours. Three monoclonal antibodies appeared to hav
e prognostic value, since progression rate survival was significantly
(log-rank test) associated with their expression of EGFR (P=0.017), T1
38 (P=0.0009) and T43 (P=0.031). T138 expression was found to have an
independent significant prognostic value using a stepwise logistic reg
ression. T138 antibody may add significant information to classical pa
thological parameters.