PREDICTIVE VALUE OF P53 AND PRB IMMUNOSTAINING IN LOCALLY ADVANCED BLADDER-CANCER TREATED WITH CYSTECTOMY

Purpose: We elucidate the association between altered immunostaining f or retinoblastoma gene protein (pRb) and p53 nuclear proteins, and can cer specific death in patients treated with cystectomy for locally adv anced bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: The hospital records of 1 73 patients treated with cystectomy for advanced urothelial bladder ca ncer between 1967 and 1992 were retrospectively reviewed. Representati ve biopsies obtained before treatment were sectioned and stained using the standard immunohistochemical technique with antibody DO-7 (p53) a nd antibody PMG3-245 (pRb). A tumor was considered to have an altered p53 expression if 20% or more of tumor cells exhibited nuclear stainin g. Similarly, if no tumor cell had nuclear immunostaining the tumor wa s considered to have an altered pRb expression. Results: An altered ex pression was observed for p53 in 98 tumors (57%) and for pRb in 60 (35 %). In a proportional hazards analysis no association was found betwee n an altered expression of pRb or p53 and cancer specific death. This finding was also true in another analysis when the results of immunost aining for pRb and p53 were combined. Conclusions: An altered expressi on for pRb and/or p53 was not correlated to cancer specific death. Thu s, these parameters could not be used as predictors of treatment outco me after cystectomy for locally advanced bladder cancer.