Expression of p53 and pRb in bladder and prostate cancers of patients having both cancers

Evidence has been presented that tumor suppressor genes p53 and Rb play a c rucial role in the development of both human prostate and bladder cancer. P atients with either cancer are at an increased risk for developing the othe r malignancy as compared to the general population. The purpose of the pres ent study was to investigate whether there is abnormal expression of these two suppressor proteins in both rite bladder and prostate cancels of the sa me patient. The expression of p53 and pRb in bladder and prostate cancel sp ecimens obtained from 15 patients having both cancels was studied using imm unohistochemical staining with antibodies against these proteins. The expre ssion of p53 and pRb in both bladder and prostate cancers of the same patie nt was congruent in 8 of 15 cases (53%) for p53 and 9 of 15 cases (60%) for pRb. The significance of these findings warrants further investigations.