p53 and c-jun expression in urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma: correlation with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) histological grade and clinical stage.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate p53 and c-jun oncoproteins and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in transitional cell urinary bladder carcinomas (TCCs) and to determine their relationships to tumour grade, stage and survival.


METHODS
The expression of p53, c-jun and PCNA was studied using immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues in a series of 110 TCCs.


RESULTS
58% of our cases were positive for p53 and 88% for c-jun. A statistically very significant correlation (p < 0.0001) was observed between p53 and c-jun (r = 0.781), p53 and PCNA (r = 0.772), c-jun and PCNA (r = 0.831) as well as between each of the two oncoproteins and the histological grade and clinical stage (p < 0.001). There was no correlation of either p53, PCNA or c-jun with clinical outcome in terms of patients survival.


CONCLUSIONS
p53 and c-jun proteins' overexpression are strongly related to rapid tumour cell proliferation and hence with aggressive growth in urinary bladder TCC. PCNA score remains an important prognostic index in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
Skopelitou
A
A
Pathology Department of Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece.
Hadjiyannakis
M
M
Dimopoulos
D
D
Kamina
S
S
Krikoni
O
O
Alexopoulou
V
V
Rigas
C
C
Agnantis
N J
NJ
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001706:Biopsy; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D016758:Genes, jun / Q000235:genetics; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53