Investigation of ABH antigenicity of random mucosal biopsies and transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Blood group isoantigens can be demonstrated immunohistologically on normal bladder urothelium by means of the specific red cell adherence test. In preneoplastic and reactive changes of the urothelium as well as in carcinoma in situ, a loss of these antigens occurs. Blood group isoantigen content decreases with higher anaplasia of transitional cell carcinoma. Overt tumors without blood group isoantigens are associated with carcinoma in situ and severe dysplasia at a high percentage. These tumors are associated significantly more often with antigen-negative light-microscopically normal-appearing urothelium than antigen-positive ones do.