PRINCIPLES OF TUMOR INVASION AND METASTAS IS

Histopathological and clinical parameters are of limited value in char acterization of the individual course of disease in bladder cancer pat ients. Down-regulation of E-cadherin, an intercellular adhesion molecu le, and upregulation of autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR) expr ession have been shown to play a part in tumour cell invasion and meta stasis. In a retrospective analysis concerning 95 different bladder sp ecimens and a prospective study in 100 bladder cancer patients, reduct ion in E-cadherin concomitantly with an increase in AMFR expression wa s associated with a poor prognosis. The dual use of these two antigens may improve early diagnosis of high-risk bladder cancer patients and influence treatment decisions.