Interrelationship between expression of p53, proliferating cell nuclear antigen and c-erbB-2 in bladder cancer.

The expression of c-erbB-2, p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was studied using immunocytochemical techniques in paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens (consecutive 5-microns sections) from 104 transitional cell bladder tumours. 46/104 (44%) of the tumours were positive for c-erbB-2, 29/104 (28%) for p53 and 88/104 (85%) for PCNA. The expression of these antigens was independent of T-category, whereas the expression was significantly related to histological differentiation and papillary status so that non-papillary high-grade tumours were usually positive for all the antigens. The expression of c-erbB-2 and p53 was intense in 8/104 (8%) of cases and weak or absent in 76/104 (73%) of cases (p = 0.0003). The expression of p53 and PCNA was intense in 22/104 (21%) and weak or absent in 76/104 (73%) of tumours (p = 0.0003). Intense expression of c-erbB-2 and PCNA was also interrelated significantly (p = 0.0202). All three antigens were simultaneously expressed in 16-29% of T2-T4 tumours, in 22-35% of grade 2-3 tumours and in 35% of non-papillary tumours.