title: Multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridisation: prognostic perspectives in superficial bladder cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish independent prognostic factors on a chromosomal basis in superficial bladder cancer, using a multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) probe mix.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2002, voided urine from 75 consecutive patients (mean age 71.7, range 52-93) years under follow-up for superficial urothelial cancer was studied prospectively. The patients were observed for a mean (standard deviation (SD)) period of 39.3 (6.8) months (range 27-58) until July 2005. A multicolour FISH on liquid-based voided urinary cytology was carried out on all patients. Univariate analysis, using a log rank test, was used to determine the prognostic relevance of a low-risk pattern and a high-risk pattern. Progression-free survival time was calculated from the date of first diagnosis to first recurrence or progression according to the Kaplan-Meier product-limit method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient was lost to follow-up. 27 of the 74 remaining (36.8%) patients showed recurrent disease. In 9 (33.3%) patients with a low-risk pattern disease recurred after a mean (SD) observation time of 29.7 (1.9) months (range 8.3-52.3, median 30.8 (12.4)). 18 (66.7%) patients with a high-risk pattern developed recurrence within a mean (SD) of 17.6 (2.0) months (range 4-38.8, median 16.7 (11.6)). The Kaplan-Meier curve for progression-free survival showed marked differences between the low-risk and the high-risk groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with a high-risk chromosomal pattern have a markedly shorter disease-free survival time and higher progression rate than patients with a low-risk pattern. High-risk patients can therefore be treated more aggressively to prevent tumour spreading.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Central Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy. chmian@libero.it
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mian
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lodde
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Comploj
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lusuardi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mian
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pycha
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 / Q000235:genetics; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery