[Transitional bladder carcinoma TaG1: role of the EGFr tyrosin kinase activation in the cellular proliferation].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this work was to study if the expression of EGFr oncoprotein and the rate of tumoral cell proliferation in TaG1 transitional bladder carcinoma were related and if this relationship influences the potential aggressivity of the neoplasia.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with TaG1 (non-invasive papillary and well differentiated) transitional bladder carcinoma were randomly selected. EGFr was determined by a semiquantitative immunohistochemical method in three intensity levels. The proliferative tumoral cell activity was determined by the PCNA index, that is, the relation between the total number of tumor cells and the number of tumor cells with nuclear PCNA-immunoreactivity expressed in percentage.


RESULTS
The rate of cellular tumour proliferation (PCNA index) was significantly higher in those tumors with EGFr's greater expression (p=0.005). The EGFr expression was associated with tumor recurrence (p=0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
The major expression of EGFr oncoprotein in tumours with higher rate of cell proliferation indicates that it may be influenced by the activity of such oncoprotein. The binding of a ligand to the EGFr leads to intracellular tumor proliferation, hence possibly favouring a more aggressive biological behavior.
Blasco
Miguel
M
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Son Llatzer, Palma de Mallorca, España.
Losada
Joaquín
J
Fernández Val
José Félix
JF
Sarría
Rafael
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D066246:ErbB Receptors