[Expression of transferrin receptor on transitional cell cancer]

We examined the expression of transferrin receptor (TR) in transitional cell cancer (TCC) immunohistologically, to clarify its implication in tumor malignancy. Forty eight out of 51 tumors expressed TR while TR was not detected on the normal transitional epithelium of renal pelvis, ureter and urinary bladder. In general, a higher grade and more invasive TCC expressed TR more frequently and more intensely. Furthermore, recurrent tumors treated with transurethral resection significantly more frequently expressed TR than the initial tumor. These results indicate that the detection of TR on the tumor cells is useful for estimating the degree of their malignancy.