Prognostic significance of thymidine phosphorylase in superficial bladder carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) in bladder carcinomas and assessed its prognostic significance in superficial bladder cancer samples.


METHODS
We studied 142 primary bladder cancer samples immunohistochemically for nuclear thymidine phosphorylase (TPN), cytoplasmic (TPC) and stromal (TPSTR) expression. We correlated them with standard clinicopathological features (grade, stage, concurrent in situ, multiplicity, primary or recurrent status), as well with recurrence and progression. We examined also the relationship between TP and tumor microvessel density.


RESULTS
The level of all types of TP correlated well with stage, while grade correlated well only with TPSTR and the presence of carcinoma in situ only with TPN. Patients with low levels of TPN had a longer tumor free interval, during a 38.6 months mean follow up time. Regarding the association between TP count and microvessel density we found the strongest association with TPSTR (p=0.003), a borderline statistical significance with TPC (p=0.049) and no relationship with TPN (p=0.072).


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that the assessment of TPN might be useful for predicting recurrence in superficial bladder cancer. We propose also that TP may stimulate angiogenesis.
Stavropoulos
N E
NE
Department of Urology, 'G. Hatzikosta', General Hospital, Makriyianni Avenue, 45001 Ioannina, Greece.
Bouropoulos
C
C
Ioachim
E
E
Michael
M
M
Hastazeris
K
K
Tsimaris
I
I
Kalogeras
D
D
Liamis
Z
Z
Kafarakis
V
V
Stefanaki
S
S
Malamou-Mitsi
V
V
D000368:Aged; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase