CLINICAL PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN TRANSITIONAL CELL-CANCER OF THE BLADDER

A cohort of 537 patients with transitional cell cancer of the bladder (TCC) were followed up for a mean of 9 years and the clinicopathologic al data were related to prognosis. The T category (p < 0.0001), N cate gory (p < 0.0001) and M category (p < 0.0001) were the most important clinical prognostic factors, followed by the age of the patient (p < 0 .0001). Of the histological variables the WHO grade (p < 0.0001), papi llary status (p < 0.0001) and the presence of R3-4 cells in voided uri ne (p = 0.0061) predicted unfavorable prognosis. In Ta-T1 tumors the W HO grade (p < 0.0001), papillary status (p < 0.0001) and the age of th e patient (p < 0.0001) had a prognostic value in univariate analysis. In Cox's analysis independent predictors of survival were the T catego ry (p < 0.0001), WHO grade (p < 0.0001), patient age (p < 0.0001), pap illary status (p = 0.012) and the presence of symptoms before diagnosi s (p = 0.033). In superficial tumors the WHO grade (p < 0.0001) and pa tient age (p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of survival.