Aneusomy for detection of bladder cancer recurrence: a Southwest Oncology Group study

The high risk of recurrence in superficial transitional cell cancer (TCC) of the bladder prompted evaluation of whether chromosome changes detected at first recurrence were correlated with relapse or with response to fluoroquinolone treatment. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis was applied to desquamated cells from bladder washings obtained immediately before surgical resection. Cells were screened for numeric changes in chromosomes 7 and 9. Aberrations were identified in 38/54 patients eligible for evaluation. Although no clear associations were established owing to sample size, the results suggested that risk of progression/relapse was positively associated with loss of chromosome 9 and with polysomy, and negatively associated with gain of chromosome 7, the latter in contrast to published data. A short-term survival advantage was noted anecdotally with gain of chromosome 9.