[Significance of ABH antigens and CEA for the prognosis of urothelial tumors].

Normal urothelial cells usually reveal surface-bound blood group isoantigens (ABH antigens). These substances can be demonstrated by means of the Specific Red Cell Adherence test (SRCA-test) or the indirect immunoperoxidase method. ABH antigens show a different distribution pattern from that of CEA. Some of the superficial, well-differentiated urothelial carcinomas show a depletion of the ABH content. The loss of antigens indicates a worse prognosis. Antigen depletion can be found also in preneoplastic alterations and in early stages of bladder cancer. In cases of SRCA-negative tumours, the apparently normal urothelium on light microscopy shows antigen depletion to some degree in a considerable proportion of cases. The loss of ABH antigens, therefore, seems to be a phenomenon which appears at a very early stage in the development of bladder cancer.