Prognosis in Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder Based upon Tissue Blood Group ABH and Thomsen-Friedenreich Antigen Status and Karyotype of the Initial Tumor

Several markers of initial bladder carcinomas described recently may be clinically significant predictors of biological behavior of future recurrences. Comparison of the marker systems and assessment of the value of using multiple markers have been difficult, because the various markers have been studied in different patients. In this study, we compared four markers [chromosome mode, marker chromosomes, and expression of the ABH “blood group” antigens and the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (using immunoperoxidase or lectin immunoperoxidase methods)] in 39 patients presenting initially with low-stage bladder carcinoma and followed 3 to 11 years or until deep muscle invasion occurred. Each of the markers was significantly related to subsequent recurrences with deep muscle invasion, and each marker system was able to identify those patients with a very low risk of subsequent invasion. For detection of a subpopulation of patients with Grade II carcinomas who were at high risk for development of subsequent invasion, combinations of markers, especially hyperdiploidy and abnormal expression of the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen, were significantly more effective than any single marker system.