Value of P53 protein as a tumor marker in patients with transitional cell bladder cancer

ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this work is to determine the value of P53 as a biochemical marker in patients with bladder cancer. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 30 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of different grades and 10 healthy men as a control group who had been admitted to the Urology Department; Benha Faculty of Medicine between August 1999 and November 2001. The mean age of the patients was 56.3 years (range 38-80 years). They were evaluated by history taking; clinical examination; laboratory investigations; radiological examination and cysto-scopy-guided biopsies. P53 was determined in the serum preoperatively and postoperatively after 21 days and 6 months; as well as in the tissue specimens taken by transurethral resection or by radical cystectomy. Results: The mean serum P53 value in the control group was 10.0 + 1.83 Pg/ml. In the patients with grade-1 tumors it was 25.6 + 4.8 Pg/ml compared to 44.8 + 14.73 Pg/ml and 131.1 + 15.28 Pg/ml for grade-2 and grade-3 tumors; respectively (P 0.05). In tumors larger than 2 cm the mean serum P53 value was 87.54 + 10.81 Pg/ml; while in tumors less than 2 cm it was 32.91 + 2.32 Pg/ml (P 0.05). The mean serum P53 value in a single tumor was 27.8 + 7.1 Pg/ml compared to 102.3 + 20.4 Pg/ml in multiple tumors (P 0.05). On follow-up after 21 days the mean serum P53 value was 14.0 + 2.71 Pg/ml in grade-1 tumors; 17.0 + 3.79 Pg in grade-2 and 55.3 + 12.4 Pg/ml in grade-3 tumors (P 0.05). Eleven patients developed recurrence; their mean serum P53 was 125.6 + 13.46 Pg/ml preoperatively and significantly decreased to 59.9 + 18.2 Pg/ml postoperatively; but then rose again to 91.5 + 20.1 Pg/ml. The mean P53 in the tissues of the control group was 11.3 + 2.31 Pg/ml; while the tissues of the cancer patients showed values of 29.8 + 4.42 Pg/ml; 46.6 + 11.08 and 140.2 + 14.85 Pg/ml for grade-1; grade-2 and grade-3 tumors; respectively (P 0.05). Conclusion: P53 seems to be a promising tumor marker for transitional cell bladder cancer and a valuable tool for identifying subgroups of patients that may have a poor prognosis