[Prognostic factors in bladder cancer]

DNA distribution was studied in tumor cells of 54 patients with bladder cancer. Diploid and aneuploid distributions were recorded in 34 and 20 cases, respectively. Aneuploid DNA proved to be a negative prognostic factor as 5-year survival of such patients made up 48.2%, the lethality rate being 1.78 (p = 0.04). For diploid tumors the above parameters were 80.7% and 0.63, respectively. Poor differentiation of the tumor, invasion in lamina propria, lymphatic and blood vessels occurred much more frequently in patients with aneuploid tumors which appeared to indicate high-grade malignant potential of such tumors. It is concluded that DNA content in bladder cancer is a valuable prognostic criterium. This biological marker requires further studies.