Background: Determination of prognosis factors associated with survival, recurrence, progression, and development of metastasis in T1 and T2a transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is discussed.
Methods: A study was conducted of a group of 210 patients with primary bladder TCC at classification T1 (n = 175) and T2aN0M0 (n = 35). A total of 177 variables were studied in each patient. The monoclonal antibodies used were the following: DO7 (p53) and MIB-1 (Ki-67). Prognosis was obtained using Kaplan-Meier methodology and Cox proportional hazards model.
Results: The average follow-up period was 6.7 years. Cancer-related survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 82.96% and 74.78%, respectively. The independent survival variables were the following: age and expression of p53. Recurrence free survival at 5 and 10 years stood at 51.80% and 42.71%, respectively. The independent recurrence variables were T2a classification, tumor multifocality, tumor size of greater than 3 cm, carcinoma in situ in random biopsy, and expression of Ki-67. Progression free survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 75.31% and 69.16%, respectively. The independent progression variables were age, T2a classification, and expression of p53. Metastasis free survival rates at 5 and 10 years stood at 87.23% and 84.55%, respectively. The expression of p53 was the sole variable to provide an independent prediction of metastasis.
Conclusions: The expression of p53 clearly has an independent effect on the prediction of survival, progression and development of metastasis, showing a dose-response effect. Tumor multifocality and T2a classification are the variables that best predict recurrence.
Copyright 2002 American Cancer Society.