Based on our data we suggest that VEGF is not useful for predicting recurrence or progression in superficial bladder cancer. Microvessel density determination may help to predict progression of grade 3 patients to muscle invasive disease but not as an independent prognostic factor.
Predicting future tumour behaviour has always been a major task when treating bladder cancer. Ki67 monoclonal antibody has been reported to be a good marker of proliferative activity in a variety of tumours. We have studied the association of growth fractions defined by the monoclonal antibody with tumour grade, category and recurrence rate of superficial lesions in 34 patients with bladder cancer and 15 normal controls. Mean Ki67 indexes (% stained cells) were 0.07 +/- 0.02% in normal urothelium, 1.27 +/- 1.55% in grade 1, 12.23 +/- 8.32% in grade 2 and 16.42 +/- 11.82% in grade 3 tumours, while the values were 5.45 +/- 5.87%, 12.66 +/- 9.81% and 17.18 +/- 12.41% in categories pTa, pT1 and T2-T3 respectively. Recurrence and non-recurrence groups of patients showed indexes of 13.29 +/- 9.49% and 4.15 +/- 5.0% respectively. Statistically significant differences in Ki67 values between normal urothelium and tumour, between tumours of different grades and categories as well as between recurrence and non-recurrence groups of patients led to the conclusion that Ki67 monoclonal antibody is a good tool in defining tumour behaviour in bladder cancer.
Introduction: The expression pattern of cyclins D1 and E, as well as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21(Wa1/Cip1) and p27(Kip1) and their relationship to tumour behaviour and patients’ prognosis was examined in 142 urothelial cell carcinomas. The expression of these proteins was also analyzed along with other cell-cycle-related proteins such as: p53, pRb and the proliferation-associated indices Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Patients and Methods: These molecule markers were localized immunochemically using the monoclonal antibodies anti-cyclin D1 (DCS-6), anti-cyclin E (13A3), anti-p21 (4D10), and anti-p27 (1B4) in 142 patients with urothelial cell carcinoma. Results: Focal positivity (<10% of tumour cells) or the absence of cyclin D1 immunostaining was observed in 105/142 (73.9%) of the tumours. Cyclin D1 expression was correlated with tumour grade and stage as well as with the existence of in situ component. In addition, cyclin D1 expression was positively correlated with p21(Waf1/Cip1) and p27(Kip1) and inversely with the Ki-67 score. Focal positivity (<20% of tumour cells) or the absence of cyclin E immunoreactivity was observed in 105/142 (73.9%) in all cases. Cyclin E expression was correlated with tumour stage. A positive relationship between cyclin E expression and the two associated proliferating indices Ki-67 and PCNA, as well as with p53 and p27(Kip1) proteins expression was noted. Absence or focal positivity (<5% of tumour cells) of p21(Waf1/Cip1) was detected in 88/142 (62%) of the carcinomas. p21(Waf1/Cip1) expression was correlated with tumour grade and stage. A positive relationship of its expression cyclin D1, cyclin E, p27 and pRb expression was observed. Absence or focal immunostaining (<20% of tumour cells) of p27 protein was detected in 55/141 (39%) in all cases. p27(Kip1) expression was correlated with tumour grade as well as with cyclins D1 and E. The prognostic significance of cyclins D1, E and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21(Waf1/Cip1), p27(Kip1) in determining the risk of recurrence and progression with both univariate (log rank test) and multivariate (Cox regression) methods of analysis showed no statistically significance differences. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the level of the cell cycle regulators studied does not seem to have a clinical value in terms of predicting the risk of early recurrence and progression. In addition the interrelationship probably means their contribution to the regulation of cell growth through different pathways in bladder carcinogenesis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.