Fluorescence methods for measuring the A, B, and H isoantigens on cytological material from bladder carcinoma

Fluorescence methods for determining ABH isoantigens on transitional cells were developed for the study of cytologic material. Indirect immunofluorescence was used for A- and B-antigens, fluorescein-labeled Ulex Europaeus lectin for the H-antigen. Isoantigens of 151 patients with bladder carcinoma were studied. Patients with a malignant cytology showed deletion in 31/65 cases compared to 12/62 cases when the cytology was benign. Cyto-flow ploidy determinations were abnormal in 41/120 cases measured; cells from 21 of these 41 had isoantigen deletion compared to 25/79 cases with a diploid pattern. The ABH isoantigen deletion shows some relation to malignant cytology, abnormal ploidy and a visible tumor, but is probably an independent parameter.