Interphase cytogenetics of bladder cancer progression: relationship between aneusomy, DNA ploidy pattern, histopathology, and clinical outcome

In the present study, different stages of transitional cell carcinoma of th e bladder were analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization, using probes specific for pericentromeric classical satellite. Seventy primary tumors we re evaluated for chromosomes 1, 7, 9, 17, and ploidy by flow cytometry. The results were correlated, after a mean follow-up period, with ploidy, histo pathological characteristics, recurrence, and progression. Firstly, our dat a demonstrated that the sensitivity of fluorescence in situ hybridization i n detecting quantitative DNA. aberrations exceeds that of flow cytometry. T he frequency of chromosome I and 9 aberrations was not significantly differ ent in diploid and aneuploid tumors of different stage and grade. In contra st, the chromosome 7 and 17 aneusomy showed greater differences between pT1 and pT2-3 tumors (P<0.032 and P<0.0006, respectively) than between stage p Ta and pT1. An increasing number of aberrations was observed in all chromos omes examined from turners of patients that afterwards underwent cystectomy and/or had recurrent tumors. This study indicates that fluorescence in sit u hybrization could be used to detect genetic changes relevant to patient o utcome. These genetic changes could identify patients at high risk of recur rence and possible progression.