Immunocytochemistry of collagenase expression in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of collagenase immunocytochemistry as well as its immunohistochemistry in assessing the correlation with prognostic factors in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder.


METHODS
We investigated the expression of collagenase in catheterized urine and histologic specimens from 38 patients with TCC and 20 cases with benign lesions of the urinary tract.


RESULTS
Thirteen (34.2%) and 17 (44.7%) patients with TCC showed positive expression of collagenase on cytologic and histologic specimens, respectively, whereas in no cases with benign lesions was such expression found (P < .01). Invasive and nonpapillary TCC had higher positive rates than noninvasive and papillary TCC. Grade 3 TCC was positive at a higher rate than was grade 2, whereas there were no positive cases with grade 1. Collagenase expression did not correlate significantly with stage.


CONCLUSIONS
Collagenase expression in urinary TCC correlated well with tumor growth pattern, pathologic grade and invasiveness of the carcinoma; all are known to be prognostic factors. The application of collagenase immunostaining to urinary cytology is very useful for assessing prognosis in TCC.
Hattori
M
M
Department of Clinical Cytology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan.
Ohno
E
E
Kuramoto
H
H
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017364:Collagenases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017364:Collagenases