Purpose: The usefulness of the expression of HER2/neu oncoprotein and of p53 and Rb suppressor gene product as predictors of tumor recurrence was evaluated by using a bank of prospectively collected primary papillary bladder tumors treated initially only by transurethral resection.
Materials and methods: The expression of HER-2/neu oncoprotein and p53 and Rb suppressor genes was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 256, 265 and 74 specimens of primary Ta/T1 superficial bladder tumors obtained from patients enrolled in a prospective study from 1990 to 1992. Survival analysis was used to evaluate the association between time to first recurrence and expression of each marker, the follow-up period extending to March 1994. Immunostaining for p53 and HER-2/neu was performed on paraffin-embedded tissue and, for Rb, on frozen tissue only.
Results: Her-2/neu was expressed in 21 (8.2%) cases and p53 in 39 cases (14.7%); Rb expression was altered in 12 (16.2%). In this study, p53 expression was only related to earlier recurrence in a univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis, however, failed to recognize p53 expression as an independent predictor of recurrence.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the low prevalence of HER2/neu, p53 and altered Rb expression in superficial TCC at initial resection. Only p53 expression was significantly associated with an earlier first tumor recurrence, but this association was not independent of other prognostic factors.