Cell Surface A, B or O(H) Blood Group Antigens as an Indicator of Malignant Potential in Stage A Bladder Carcinoma

Abstract

The major blood group antigens A, B or O(H) are present on normal bladder epithelium. The presence or absence of these antigens on the cell surface of bladder tumors was determined in a retrospective longitudinal study using biopsy material from 322 patients who fit the following criteria: the patient presented initially with a superficial bladder tumor; the patient had follow-up examination for at least 5 yr or until evidence of tumor invasion of bladder muscle; the paraffin-embedded tumor specimens were still available. Of 80 patients with stage A tumors that subsequently became invasive, 71 (88%) showed deletion of A, B or H antigens from the original superficial tumor. Of 146 patients who had no recurrence of superficial tumor for at least 5 yr, 127 (87%) retained A, B or H antigens. Of 96 patients who had 1 or more superficial recurrences, 87 (90%) retained antigens on the initial and subsequent tumors. Analysis of transitional cell surface antigens should help in the identification of those patients with superficial disease who are at greatest risk for invasive bladder cancer.