Polysomies but not Y chromosome losses have prognostic significance in pTa/pT1 urinary bladder cancer

A disturbed cellular DNA content is of potential diagnostic and prognostic relevance in urinary bladder cancer. To evaluate the prognostic significanc e of individual chromosomal aberrations in superficial bladder cancer, spec imens of 105 tumors (67 pTa, 38 pT1) were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). FISH allows quantitation of chromosomes on a cell by cell level. Centromere probes for the chromosomes Y, 1, and 17 were used. T here was a strong association between polysomies of the chromosomes 1 (foun d in 46% of tumors) and 17 (40% of tumors, P < .0001). Polysomies (1 and 17 ) were significantly more frequent in pT1 than in pTa tumors (P < .0001 eac h). In pTa tumors, polysomies of both chromosomes were linked to a high ris k of recurrences; polysomy 17 was associated with an increased risk of prog ression (P < .05 each). There was no significant association between polyso mies and an unfavorable prognosis in pT1 carcinomas. Previous studies had s uggested a prognostic role of Y losses in bladder cancer. However, Y losses were not linked to recurrences or tumor progression in pTa or pT1 tumors o f 67 male patients. These data show that marked genetic differences exist b etween pTa and pT1 carcinomas. They also indicate that polysomies of differ ent chromosomes may have prognostic relevance in pTa urinary bladder cancer . HUM PATHOL 30:81-86. Copyright (C) 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company.