title: Prognostic significance of angiogenesis in transitional cell carcinoma of the human urinary bladder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify tumour angiogenesis in bladder cancer and determine whether it correlates with tumour stage, grade and survival.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Sheffield Medical School, UK.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Philp
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D015588:Observer Variation; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology