HMFG-2 as a prognostic indicator in superficial bladder cancer.

A series of transitional cell carcinomas and mucosal biopsy specimens of bladder were stained immunohistochemically with the monoclonal antibody HMFG-2. Staining characteristics ranged from luminal staining in well differentiated, superficial lesions to staining of all cells in invasive carcinomas. Invasive tumour nests also stained strongly with the antibody. There was good correlation between the staining pattern and histological assessment of both tumours and mucosal biopsy specimens. Correlation with clinical course showed that it was also a good predictor of subsequent disease progression of superficial tumours. It is suggested that HMFG-2 staining is a sensitive indictor of malignant transformation and that it may have a role as an adjunct to conventional histological examination in the assessment of urothelial carcinomas.