[Chromosomal analysis of bladder tumors. Technical aspects, anatomoclinical correlations and perspectives. Report of...

The course of bladder tumours is difficult to predict. The most reliable prognostic factor at the present time is histological grade. Cytogenetic subclasses of bladder tumours can be distinguished on the basis of the demonstration of karyotype anomalies in bladder tumour cells. Eighteen patients underwent cytogenetic examination of their bladder tumour and were followed for an average of 35 months. Multivariate analysis of the clinical and laboratory parameters studied revealed the importance of age and the absence of trisomy 7 in the tumour on patient survival. The presence of trisomy 7 in a bladder tumour may therefore constitute a factor of poor prognosis. This hypothesis needs to be confirmed by further studies in larger populations. The search for this anomaly can be performed by fluorescent in situ chromosomal hybridisation, a technique which transforms cytogenetics from an experimental procedure into a routine complementary investigation. These techniques can be performed on urine samples, suggesting the possibility of their application to screening or follow-up of bladder tumours.