Survivin as a useful adjunct marker for the grading of papillary urothelial carcinoma.

Abstract Context.—Distinguishing low-grade and high-grade noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma based on morphologic criteria can be challenging and adjunct markers are highly desirable. Survivin, presumably an antiapoptotic protein, was previously proposed as a prognostic marker for urothelial carcinoma. Objective.—To assess interobserver variability by 2004 World Health Organization classification and the value of survivin and Ki-67 as potential markers for grading noninvasive papillary urothelial carcinoma. Design.—Fifty-one bladder biopsies were graded blindly by 5 experienced general surgical pathologists. The protein and messenger RNA expression of survivin and Ki-67 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction using paraffin-embedded tissue. The immunohistochemistry result was quantitatively analyzed using a computer-based color deconvolution module. Results.—The diagnostic agreement among 5 pathologists was fair to poor, with 32% of th...