Prognostic significance of angiogenesis in transitional cell carcinoma of the human urinary bladder
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E A Philp1, T J Stephenson, M W Reed
1Department of Pathology, University of Sheffield Medical School, UK.
Objectives:
To quantify tumour angiogenesis in bladder cancer and determine whether it correlates with tumour stage, grade and survival.
Patients And Methods:
Archival samples from a total of 113 patients newly presenting with transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder were graded and staged, and analysed for angiogenic blood vessel density by a double immunohistochemical technique. The findings were correlated with the information obtained during a minimum follow-up of 12 years.
Results:
Univariate analysis showed that TNM stage (P = 0.02) and mean vessel count (P = 0.01) were significant predictors of death from bladder cancer. Blood vessel density was significantly correlated with tumour stage (P = 0.01) and the presence of vascular invasion (P = 0.007). Trained observers were essential for the accurate counting of blood vessels to prevent excessive inter-observer variability. Multiple regression analysis showed that the combination of mean vessel count and stage was a significant prognostic indicator.
Conclusion:
Angiogenesis in primary bladder cancer is a predictor of death from the disease. Further work to determine whether it predicts invasion and recurrences in superficial tumours may be valuable.