Correlation ofurine cytology withABO(H) antigenicity intransitional cell carcinoma ofthe bladder

SUMMARY Cellsurface ABO(H)antigenicity ofsuperficial bladder tumours was assessed bythe indirect immunoperoxidase testin49patients. Goodcorrelation was obtained betweensurface antigenicity oftumoursandtheresults ofurine cytology. Malignant cells were detected cytologically in22(56%) ofcaseswithABO(H)antigen negative tumourswhichare known to behavemore aggressively thanABO(H)antigen positive ones.Incontrast, malignant cells were foundintheurine cytology ofonly one (10%)ofpatients withABO(H)antigen positive tumours. ABO(H)blood groupantigen expression ofurothelial transitional cell cancer hasbeenextensively studied anditsprognostic importance established.'"3 Some workers haveclaimed that loss ofcell surface blood groupantigens indicates future invasive potential in superficial bladder cancer.4 Others haveshownan increased incidence ofrecurrent disease inpatients whoseprimary tumours wereantigen negative.5 Most workers agree that loss ofsurface antigens represents increased biological aggressiveness oftransitional cell tumours withaconsequently less favourable clinical course. Thisstudy wasconducted todetermine ifthis heterogeneity ofsuperficial bladder cancers was reflected inthefindings ofurine cytological analysis. Patients andmethods