Expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and epithelial membrane antigen does not predict survival in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to validate the value of E-cadherin and -catenin expression and to test an alternative prognostic marker, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-nine consecutive patients with primary stage T1 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) were enrolled in this study. Tissue specimens were stained with the following mouse anti-human antibodies: anti-E-cadherin, anti--catenin, and anti-EMA. Reaction intensity within cancer cells was assessed according to the immunoreactive score (IRS). Finally, the association between the expression of selected proteins and patient survival was assessed.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up was 34.8 months. Recurrence-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were 47.5%, 72.5%, and 72.5%, respectively. Differences in the IRS for -catenin and EMA were found clinically, but were not statistically significant in prediction of the risk of disease progression (p > 0.05). No difference in protein expression was observed regarding the risk of recurrence, OS, or cancer-specific mortality (p > 0.05). Stratification of patients based on the IRS into three groups (poor, moderate, and intensive reaction) failed to identify a prognostic marker among the tested proteins (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of E-cadherin, -catenin, and EMA cannot reliably predict survival in patients with high-risk NMIBC. Further searches are needed to identify tissue markers of progression and recurrence in NMIBC.