Transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and its expression of p53 protein, c-erbB-2 protein, neuron-specific enolase, Phe 5, chromogranin, laminin and collagen type IV.

Expression of p53 protein, c-erbB-2 protein, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), Phe 5, chromogranin, laminin and collagen type IV was studied by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens from 20 patients with renal pelvic carcinoma. Positive membrane-bound c-erbB-2 staining was not found in any case. Two tumors stained for p53 protein. Focal immunoreactivity for laminin was present in 55% and for collagen type IV in 80%. 25% of the cases were NSE positive. None of the tumors stained for Phe 5 or chromogranin. The results were compared with the clinical outcome and the immunohistological findings of p53 protein and c-erbB-2 protein in 13 cases of bladder carcinoma in the same patient group. Four of the thirteen bladder cancer specimens, but only 2 of the 20 renal pelvic cancer specimens, expressed p53 protein. As for renal pelvic carcinoma, c-erbB-2 protein was not expressed in bladder carcinoma. We conclude that p53 gene abnormalities may be of importance in the development of carcinoma in the renal pelvis and urinary bladder, but c-erbB-2 protein expression does not play a major role.