BIOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS OF T1 PAPILLARY BLADDER-CANCER - FLOW CYTOMETRIC STUDY OF PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED MATERIAL

DNA ploidy, proliferative activity (evaluated in terms of the prolifer ative index [Pn]) and epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-X) expres sion in primary bladder cancer in 52 patients were studied by means of flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Forty of the 52 tumors yield ed evaluable DNA histograms: 22 were diploid (55%) and 18 aneuploid (4 5%) (median DNA index = 1.5). Ninety-five percent of the tumors were p ositive for EGF-X expression. The median PI value of the entire case s eries, estimated with a mathematical model, was 5.4%, or 6.7% in diplo id tumors and 12.1% in aneuploid ones. EGF-X expression was higher in aneuploid than diploid turners. Most of the well-differentiated tumors were diploid, while aneuploid populations and positivity for EGF-X ex pression were more frequent in poorly and moderately differentiated tu mors. No differences in proliferative activity were observed in relati on to,oracle. Overexpression of EGF-R in aneuploid tumors and a relati onship between it, proliferative activity and grading were observed. T he disease-free survival rates were 72% and 91% for patients with aneu ploid and diploid tumors, respectively.