ABSTRACT
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a potent mitogen and angiogenic protein that may function as an autocrine growth regulator in a variety of malignancies. However, the prognostic value of bFGF expression in bladder cancer has not been adequately studied. We examined tumor tissues of 22 superficial and 25 invasive bladder cancers to define the prognostic value of bFGF expression. We performed immunohistochemical staining of bFGF in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded bladder tissue sections using rabbit polyclonal antibody. Microvessels were identified by immunohistochemistry using antibodies to endothelial marker, factor VIII-related antigen. The staining of bFGF were significantly correlated with grade and T stage (p<0.05). The elevated expression of bFGF in patients with invasive bladder cancer was significant correlated with recurrence and 2 year survival (p<0.05). However, no significantly correlation was observed between level of bFGF and vascular counts in frozen sections derived from bladder cancers. These results suggest that the bFGF expression has an important prognostic value in patients with bladder cancer. Immunohistochemical study for bFGF may become a valuable method to predict long-term survival and necessity for adjuvant therapy in patients with bladder cancer.