Correlation of urine cytology with ABO(H) antigenicity in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Cell surface ABO(H) antigenicity of superficial bladder tumours was assessed by the indirect immunoperoxidase test in 49 patients. Good correlation was obtained between surface antigenicity of tumours and the results of urine cytology. Malignant cells were detected cytologically in 22(56%) of cases with ABO(H) antigen negative tumours which are known to behave more aggressively than ABO(H) antigen positive ones. In contrast, malignant cells were found in the urine cytology of only one (10%) of patients with ABO(H) antigen positive tumours.