Use of Lewis X antigen and deoxyribonucleic acid image cytometry to increase sensitivity of urinary cytology in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

PURPOSE

To improve sensitivity and specificity of urinary cytology for bladder cancer cell detection we used deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) image cytometry and the monoclonal anti-Lewis X antibody P12.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Spontaneously voided urine and additional barbotage bladder washings of 25 patients with transitional cell carcinomas and 25 patients with benign diseases of the bladder were analyzed by conventional cytology, immunocytology and DNA image cytometry. The DNA content was determined in specimens stained with Feulgen according to the European Society for Analytical Cellular Pathology consensus report on standardization of DNA image cytometry. For the immunocytological examination we used the avidin-biotin-complex immunoperoxidase method with the monoclonal antibody P12 directed against the Lewis X determinant.

RESULTS

The cytological examination revealed a sensitivity of 72% and a specificity of 100%. By using DNA image cytometry with Kolmogoroff-Smirnow test sensitivity increased up to 84% with a specificity of 100%. The immunocytological examination with Lewis X showed a sensitivity of 84% and a specificity of 80%.

CONCLUSIONS

Combining cytology and DNA cytometry the overall sensitivity increased to 92% and with the additional application of immunocytology for Lewis X antigen sensitivity it increased to 96% but was accompanied by a decrease in specificity to 80%. DNA image cytometry and Lewis X antigen detection are not suitable for screening but suspicious urothelial cells in urinary cytology specimens can be evaluated specifically by DNA measurements. In the future it needs to be clarified whether DNA image cytometry in combination with Lewis X antigen detection can help to signal relapse and progression of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.