Flow cytometry study of cytokeratin 18 expression according to tumor grade and deoxyribonucleic acid content in human bladder tumors.
Cytokeratin 18 expression in transitional cells of 76 bladder tumors (11 grade 1, 33 grade 2 and 32 grade 3) and 10 normal biopsies was quantified by flow cytometry after immunolabeling with the anti-cytokeratin 18 monoclonal antibody RGE 53. Combined cytometric analysis of deoxyribonucleic acid content and cytokeratin 18 expression was conducted. Of 76 tumor biopsies 38 had a unimodal deoxyribonucleic acid profile with a deoxyribonucleic acid index close to 1.0, while the other 38 showed a bimodal profile: 1 peak with an index of 1.0 and a second peak with an index of greater than 1.0. The 11 grade 1 tumors belonged to the first group, whereas 10 of the 33 grade 2 and 28 of the 32 grade 3 tumors belonged to the second group. Antibody RGE 53 reacted with 4 per cent of the normal bladder cells (umbrella cells), 14 +/- 3 per cent of the cells from grade 1, 33 +/- 8 per cent from grade 2 and 56 +/- 10 per cent from grade 3 tumors. Analysis of cytokeratin 18 expression according to deoxyribonucleic acid content at the single cell level in tumors with a bimodal deoxyribonucleic acid profile showed that cytokeratin 18 was detected frequently in cells with a high deoxyribonucleic acid index but much less so in cells with an index of 1.0. Therefore, expression of cytokeratin 18 can be recognized as a marker of aggressiveness in bladder tumors, since it increases in parallel with tumor grade and cell deoxyribonucleic acid content.
Hijazi
A
A
Unité de Recherches en Néphro-Urologie Transplantation, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France.
Devonec
M
M
Bouvier
R
R
Revillard
J P
JP
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D002469:Cell Separation; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007633:Keratins