SIGNIFICANCE OF URINARY EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND ITS RECEPTOR EXPRESSION IN HUMAN BLADDER-CANCER

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been sug gested to play an important role in the progression of bladder cancer through paracrine stimulation by epidermal growth factor in the urine. However, there is no information regarding the expression of EGFR and urinary ligand measurement in corresponding tumors in patients with b ladder cancer. Materials and Methods: Paired analysis of urinary level s of epidermal growth factor (U-EGF: and the expression of EGFR was pe rformed on 48 cases of bladder cancer. U-EGF test and EGFR status were correlated with clinicopathologic factors of bladder cancer, and comp ared for their prognostic value with a mean follow-lip of 39.7 months. Results: U-EGF was inversely correlated with the intensity of EGFR ex pression (p = 0.04); while no substantial relationship was observed wi th other conventional prognostic indicators (p > 0.1, respectively). M ultivariate analysis revealed that factors correlated with the risk of recurrence were EGFR status (p = 0.03) and histological grading (p = 0.05). An important indicator associated with poor patient survival wa s size of tumor at diagnosis (p = 0.03). Discussion: Although measurem ent of U-EGF levels did not have any independent prognostic value, our data support the importance of urine EGF/urothelial EGFR interaction in the biological behavior of bladder cancer.