Significance of protein p53 overexpression in the clinical course of high-risk superficial bladder cancer

Objectives: This is a retrospective study in which the long-term biological behavior of 67 'high-risk' superficial bladder tumors and the prognostic relevance (prediction of disease recurrence and progression) of the determination of the p53 phenotype in these cases were studied. Material and Methods: 67 tumors with a 'high risk' of progression were selected from the 1,103 transurethral resections for bladder cancer carried out in 640 patients in this center between 1987 and 1992. These included 39 T1G3, 14 Tis (isolated or associated with Ta-T1, non-G3 tumors), and 14 Ta-T1, non-G3 tumors with submucosal lymphatic affection (L+). The median follow-up of these cases was 69.7 months. An immunohistochemical technique with monoclonal antibodies (DO-7) was used to detect the p53 phenotype in paraffin-fixed material. Results: Tumor recurrence occurred in 31 patients (46.3%) and local or distant progression in 14 (20.9%). Radical cystectomy was carried out in 16 (23.9%) cases. p53 overexpression of greater than or equal to20% ('p53+') was detected in 40 tumors (59.7%). The rate of recurrence and progression, the disease and progression-free intervals, cancer-specific survival, disease-free survival and progression-free survival were similar in the 3 tumor groups (in all cases, p > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the overexpression of protein p53, using the standard cutoff point of 20% stained nuclei, on comparing the same variables in the whole group of 67 patients (in all cases, p > 0.05). Conclusion: The detection of protein p53 was not found to be of use in the retrospective prediction of disease progression or survival in 'high-risk' superficial bladder cancer. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.