Can p53 nuclear over-expression, Bcl-2 accumulation and PCNA status be of prognostic significance in high-risk superficial and invasive bladder tumours?

AimsTo evaluate p53 and Bcl-2 expression and proliferating status (PCNA) in subgroups of patients with high-risk superficial and invasive bladder cancer, with relation to cancer progression and death, and to correlate the results with established clinical prognostic factors.MethodsParaffin-embedded sections from 42 high-risk superficial (T1G2,T1G3) and 33 invasive (T2–T4aG3N0M0) tumours were investigated immunohistochemically for p53, Bcl-2 and PCNA. The median follow-up was 52 months.ResultsIn the cohort of superficial tumours, statistical analysis showed that p53 and PCNA positivity were significant prognostic factors (P-values: 0.008 and 0.006, respectively) for disease-specific death (DSD). When life expectancy was evaluated (log-rank test), p53(+) (P=0.015) and PCNA(+) (P=0.017) offered the most accurate prognosis compared to grade, tumour size and multiplicity. Bcl-2 status had no significant effect on patient survival. In the subset of muscle-invasive tumours we failed to demonstrate any important role of p53, Bcl-2 or PCNA positivity.Conclusionsp53 and PCNA over-expression may offer valuable additional prognostic information in high-risk subgroups of superficial bladder tumours. From our results, Bcl-2 does not appear to contribute significantly to the prognosis of these patients. None of the studied markers offered prognostic information in muscle-invading disease.