ESGO/ESHRE/ESGE Guidelines for the fertility-sparing treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Background: The standard surgical treatment of endometrial carcinoma (EC) consisting of total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy drastically affects the quality of life of patients and creates a challenge for clinicians. Recent evidence-based guidelines of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) and the European Society of Pathology (ESP) provide comprehensive guidelines on all relevant issues of diagnosis and treatment in EC in a multidisciplinary setting. While also addressing work-up for fertility preservation treatments and the management and follow-up for fertility preservation, it was considered relevant to further extend the guidance on fertility sparing treatment. Objectives: To define recommendations for fertility-sparing treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: ESGO/ESHRE/ESGE nominated an international multidisciplinary development group consisting of practicing clinicians and researchers who have demonstrated leadership and expertise in the care and research of EC (11 experts across Europe). To ensure that the guidelines are evidence-based, the literature published since 2016, identified from a systematic search was reviewed and critically appraised. In the absence of any clear scientific evidence, judgment was based on the professional experience and consensus of the development group. The guidelines are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. Prior to publication, the guidelines were reviewed by 95 independent international practitioners in cancer care delivery and patient representatives. Results: The multidisciplinary development group formulated 48 recommendations for fertility-sparing treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma in four sections: patient selection, tumour clinicopathological characteristics, treatment and special issues. Conclusions: These recommendations provide guidance to professionals caring for women with endometrial carcinoma, including but not limited to professionals in the field of gynaecological oncology, onco-fertility, reproductive surgery, endoscopy, conservative surgery, and histopathology, and will help towards a holistic and multidisciplinary approach for this challenging clinical scenario. What is new?: A collaboration was set up between the ESGO, ESHRE and ESGE, aiming to develop clinically relevant and evidence-based guidelines focusing on key aspects of fertility-sparing treatment in order to improve the quality of care for women with endometrial carcinoma across Europe and worldwide.

ESGO/ESHRE/ESGE Guidelines for the fertility-sparing treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Background: The standard surgical treatment of endometrial carcinoma (EC) consisting of total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy drastically affects the quality of life of patients and creates a challenge for clinicians. Recent evidence-based guidelines of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) and the European Society of Pathology (ESP) provide comprehensive guidelines on all relevant issues of diagnosis and treatment in EC in a multidisciplinary setting. While also addressing work-up for fertility preservation treatments and the management and follow-up for fertility preservation, it was considered relevant to further extend the guidance on fertility sparing treatment. Objectives: To define recommendations for fertility-sparing treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: ESGO/ESHRE/ESGE nominated an international multidisciplinary development group consisting of practicing clinicians and researchers who have demonstrated leadership and expertise in the care and research of EC (11 experts across Europe). To ensure that the guidelines are evidence-based, the literature published since 2016, identified from a systematic search was reviewed and critically appraised. In the absence of any clear scientific evidence, judgment was based on the professional experience and consensus of the development group. The guidelines are thus based on the best available evidence and expert agreement. Prior to publication, the guidelines were reviewed by 95 independent international practitioners in cancer care delivery and patient representatives. Results: The multidisciplinary development group formulated 48 recommendations for fertility-sparing treatment of patients with endometrial carcinoma in four sections: patient selection, tumour clinicopathological characteristics, treatment and special issues. Conclusions: These recommendations provide guidance to professionals caring for women with endometrial carcinoma, including but not limited to professionals in the field of gynaecological oncology, onco-fertility, reproductive surgery, endoscopy, conservative surgery, and histopathology, and will help towards a holistic and multidisciplinary approach for this challenging clinical scenario. What is new? A collaboration was set up between the ESGO, ESHRE and ESGE, aiming to develop clinically relevant and evidence-based guidelines focusing on key aspects of fertility-sparing treatment in order to improve the quality of care for women with endometrial carcinoma across Europe and worldwide.

Cyclin D1, EGFR, and Akt/mTOR pathway. Potential prognostic markers in localized laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), cyclin D1 and Akt/mTOR pathways are active in head and neck cancer. The aim of this study was to explore biomarker expression, their correlations with clinicopathological parameters and their prognostic utility in a cohort of patients with localized squamous laryngeal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed relative messenger RNA expression of EGFR, Akt1, 2, and 3, mTOR and CCND1, copy number variants of the EGFR and CCND1 genes and immunohistochemical protein expression of EGFR, p-Akt308, p-Akt473, pmTOR, PTEN, p53 and cyclin D1 in paraffin-embedded tissue samples of localized laryngeal carcinomas. RESULTS: In 289 patients with T3-4 (77.8%), node-negative (84.1%) tumors of the larynx, high EGFR and CCND1 mRNA correlated with no or ex-smoking, (p = 0.003 and p = 0.029, respectively), while low Akt3 mRNA correlated with alcohol abuse, N0 stage, total laryngectomy, and absence of neck dissection. At a median follow-up of 74.5 months, high mTOR mRNA expression was marginally associated with shorter disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54; p = 0.093) and high Akt3 mRNA with shorter overall survival (HR = 1.49; p = 0.0786), in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, node-positive status, subglottic-transglottic location, surgery other than total laryngectomy and mTOR/CCND1 mRNA interaction with a hazard ratio of 2.16 (p value for interaction: 0.0010) were independent predictors of relapse, while node-positive status and subglottic-transglottic location were associated with higher risk for death. CONCLUSION: In localized laryngeal cancer, clinicopathological parameters and an interaction of high mTOR and CCND1 mRNA expression were found to be associated with poor patient outcome.

Three-dimensional ultrasound and three-dimensional power Doppler improve the preoperative evaluation of complex benign ovarian lesions.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) and three-dimensional power-Doppler (3DPD-US) as adjuncts to conventional B-mode-US in evaluation of complex benign ovarian lesions. METHODS: Transvaginal B-mode-US, 3D-US and 3DPD-US were performed in 29 patients with unilateral ovarian lesion. Patients were classified as low or high risk for malignancy according to a standardized scoring system composed of ten morphological and vascular parameters. Preoperative scores were matched to the histological results and the diagnostic performance of the scoring system was calculated. RESULTS: Seven out of the 16 cases of endometriomas (44%) were graded as low risk masses according to B-mode-US, while the addition of 3D-US and 3DPD-US increased the accuracy to 56% and 94%, respectively. All dermoid cysts were classified as high risk cases by B-mode-US, but 3D-US and 3DPD-US correctly classified 14% and 57% of cases, respectively. The use of B-mode-US, 3D-US and 3DPD-US correctly classified all four cystadenomas. Only the use of 3DPD-US correctly classified one out of two hemorrhagic corpus luteum cases, whereas the other imaging modalities characterized these lesions as high risk. The overall diagnostic accuracy increased from 38%, 48%, ana 83% with the application of B-mode-US alone, or combined with 3D-US and 3DPD-US, respectively. CONCLUSION: Conventional ultrasound supplemented with 3D-US and 3DPD-US and the evaluation of findings according to a specific scoring system can facilitate the preoperative classification of complex benign ovarian lesions.

The prognostic and predictive value of ERCC-1, p53, bcl-2 and bax in epithelial ovarian cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the expression of ERCC-1 in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and to correlate it with the expression of p53, bcl-2 and bax. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tumor samples from 60 patients with EOC were immunohistochemically investigated for the expression of ERCC1, p53, bcl-2 and bax. RESULTS: ERCC-1 expression was significantly decreased in serous and endometrioid compared to clear cell carcinomas. P53 expression was significantly increased in serous compared to clear cell carcinomas. Bax expression was significantly increased in serous carcinomas as compared to MMTs. High disease stage was correlated with low ERCC-1 and high bcl-2 expression. ERCC-1 expression was associated with increased disease-free interval. CONCLUSION: ERCC-1 status seems to be correlated with disease-free interval, stage and tumor histologic subtype in patients with EOC. Nevertheless, our results indicate that single-gene expressions may be unreliable and thus caution is needed when used as potential prognostic or predictive markers.

Tumor dissemination after laparoscopic surgery for an unsuspected endometrial stromal tumor.

BACKGROUND: The use of laparoscopic surgery in gynecologic oncology might be complicated by unsuspected side-effects for the patient. Experimental data suggest that the risk of tumor dissemination in the non traumatized peritoneum may be higher after pneumoperitoneum than after laparotomy, and they also show the importance of the surgeon's experience and technique. CASES: We present two cases of uterine endometrial stromal tumors which were laparoscopically excised. In both cases, intraperitoneal tumor seedings were identified shortly after the initial operation. The first patient had a low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma and succumbed from the disease two years after the initial operation, while the second patient who was diagnosed with endometrial stromal tumor remains disease free two years later. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic excision of an endometrial stromal tumor might result in tumor dissemination into the abdominal cavity. A careful second-look examination of the abdomen or a radical surgical approach is proposed.

Evaluation of the association of PIK3CA mutations and PTEN loss with efficacy of trastuzumab therapy in metastatic breast cancer.

Trastuzumab (T) is effective in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with HER2 overexpression and/or amplification, but resistance to T develops in a significant number of HER2-positive patients. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance is critical to the care of these patients. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples were collected from 256 patients with T-treated MBC. Clinical information was collected retrospectively from the patients' medical records. Central review of HER2 status by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and/or immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed that of the 227 eligible patients only 139 (61%) were truly HER2-positive. PTEN, ER, PgR, and Ki67 were evaluated by IHC, while PTEN status was evaluated by FISH as well. PIK3CA mutations were identified with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Median time to progression (TTP) was 14.4 months for the HER2-positive and 10.3 for the HER2-negative patients (log-rank, P = 0.22). Survival from the initiation of T (survivalT) was 50.4 months for the HER2-positive and 35.3 for the HER2-negative subgroups (P = 0.006). Higher risk of progression was associated with HER2-positive status and the presence of PIK3CA mutations (P = 0.014). PTEN loss, as determined by IHC, was associated with lower survivalT in the whole population (P = 0.029) and in the HER2-positive population (P = 0.017). PIK3CA mutations and/or PTEN loss status were evaluated together as a single parameter, to estimate the impact of activation of the PI3K/AKT molecular pathway, and it was significantly associated with both decreased TTP (P = 0.003 in the total population, P = 0.004 in HER2-positive patients) and survival (survivalT, P = 0.011 in total, P = 0.006 in HER2-positive). In this trastuzumab-treated breast cancer population, PIK3CA activating mutations were associated with shorter TTP and PTEN loss with decreased survival. The activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway from either defect was associated with both TTP and survival, indicating the adverse effect of this pathway's status on trastuzumab efficacy.

Intraoperative assessment of epithelial and non-epithelial ovarian tumors: a 7-year review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of frozen section diagnosis of ovarian tumors and to discuss discrepant diagnostic cases. METHODS: 932 ovarian tumors were submitted for frozen section examination. Cases with a significant diagnostic discrepancy between the intraoperative and the final histological diagnosis were reviewed. RESULTS: The sensitivity of frozen section diagnosis for benign, borderline and malignant epithelial tumors was 98.82%, 98.97% and 87.66% and the specificity 98.01%, 97.06% and 100%, respectively. There were 27 cases with diagnostic discrepancy. All non teratomatous sex cord/stromal and germ cell tumors were correctly diagnosed while a diagnostic discrepancy was observed in teratomatous tumors. CONCLUSION: Frozen section diagnosis is a reliable method for the surgical management of an ovarian mass. Nevertheless, care should be taken for large tumors measuring > 20 cm in diameter, particularly when the intraoperative diagnosis reveals an epithelial borderline tumor or a teratomatous tumor with an extensive neural component.

Image analysis of breast cancer immunohistochemistry-stained sections using ImageJ: an RGB-based model.

BACKGROUND: Image analysis of tissue sections using RGB image profiling is a modern accepted technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A new method of RGB analysis, using the freeware ImageJ, is presented which can be applied to sections with either nuclear or cytoplasmic staining. The step-by-step process is presented and the method is tested using breast cancer specimens immunostained for CK-19 and estrogen receptors. RESULTS: This image analysis easily discriminates CK-19 and estrogen receptor positivity in prepared breast cancer specimens. The method is easy to perform, without the need for previous image transformations. CONCLUSION: Compared to previous methods, this method proved more accurate in estimating the actual colours that an observer recognizes as positive after immunostaining. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether this method is efficient enough to be applied in clinical practice.

Comparison of prolonged warm and cold ischemia on the solitary kidney during partial nephrectomy in a rabbit model.

The aim of this study was to investigate the patterns of renal function recovery during partial nephrectomy (PN) on an experimental solitary kidney rabbit model and establish the upper tolerable time limits of applied ischemia. Forty-eight New Zealand rabbits underwent an open right nephrectomy and after 30 days, the animals were clustered into five groups (A, B, C, D, E). The first four groups received an open left PN, under different types of ischemia. Groups A (n = 8) and B (n = 10) were subjected to 90 and 60 min of warm ischemia (WI), respectively, while groups C (n = 10) and D (n = 10) received 90 and 120 min of cold ischemia (CI) with ice-slush cooling. Group E (n = 10) served as sham group. Serum determinations of creatinine (SCr) and BUN were recorded preoperatively and on postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 6 and 15. The animals were euthanized and the remaining kidneys were harvested and evaluated microscopically. The type and duration of ischemia were statistically significant parameters (P < 0.001). Groups B, C and D exhibited a similar pattern of recovery from trial initiation to the 15th POD (P = 0.788 and P = 0.068, respectively). Group A was extremely differentiated, with 100% mortality caused by uremia. The microscopic findings were consistent to the serum biochemistry. In our solitary kidney rabbit model, the upper limits of tolerable WI seem to be set on 60 min. CI can safely preserve the model's renal function--even up to 120 min.

Evaluation of the prognostic and predictive value of p53 and Bcl-2 in breast cancer patients participating in a randomized study with dose-dense sequential adjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To assess the prognostic and predictive significance of p53 and Bcl-2 protein expression in high risk patients with breast cancer treated with dose-dense sequential chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1997 until November 2000, 595 patients were randomized to three cycles of epirubicin (E) 110 mg/m2 followed by three cycles of paclitaxel (P) 250 mg/m2 followed by three cycles of 'intensified' CMF (cyclophosphamide 840 mg/m2, methotrexate 47 mg/m2 and fluorouracil 840 mg/m2) or to four cycles of E, followed by four cycles of CMF. p53 and Bcl-2 expression was investigated by immunohistochemistry in 392 and 397 patients respectively. RESULTS: Positive expression of p53 was detected in 104 (26.5%) patients and was significantly associated with negative hormonal status, worse histologic grade, higher incidence of disease relapse and higher rate of death. p53 positive expression was a significant negative predictor of overall survival (OS) (P = 0.002) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.001). Negative expression of Bcl-2 was detected in 203 (51%) patients and was significantly associated with negative hormonal status. Multivariate analysis revealed that, positive p53 expression, higher number of positive nodes and worse tumor grade were related to significantly poorer OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: For both treatments, p53 positive expression was a significant negative prognostic factor for OS and DFS while Bcl-2 was not. No predictive ability of p53 status or Bcl-2 status for paclitaxel treatment was evident.

Endocervical glandular lesions: a diagnostic approach combining a semi-quantitative scoring method to the expression of CEA, MIB-1 and p16.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether combining a semi-quantitative scoring method with the immunohistochemical expression of CEA, MIB-1 and p16, would improve the diagnostic accuracy of endocervical glandular lesions. METHODS: The hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of 95 cervical biopsies were examined by 4 different observers and were grouped into three categories, benign, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in situ, depending on the degree of nuclear stratification, nuclear atypia and the number of mitosis and apoptotic figures. Each case was also stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against CEA, Ki-67 (MIB-1) and p16. Staining was graded as negative, weak and positive. The accuracy of the scoring method alone was compared to the accuracy of combining the score with the immunostaining results. RESULTS: Using the semi-quantitative scoring system, most of the cases that were initially diagnosed as atypical hyperplasia or tuboendometrial metaplasia fell into the benign category. This scoring system discriminates effectively (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0.001) between the three categories (benign, endocervical glandular dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in situ). When analyzing the immunohistochemical score, only Ki-67 staining seems to be effective mostly in discriminating between normal glands or glands with atypical hyperplasia and epithelial glandular dysplasia. Ki-67, CEA and p16 failed to discriminate between tuboendometrial metaplasia and epithelial glandular dysplasia. Combining the semi-quantitative scoring system with the immunohistochemical results discriminates between the three categories equally well as the semi-quantitative scoring system alone (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0.001). Nevertheless, the proportion of cases that were classified similarly to the prestudy diagnosis was higher when the combined score was used. CONCLUSIONS: Combining a semi-quantitative scoring scheme with the immunohistochemical expression of CEA, MIB-1 and p16 seems to be of value in classifying some endocervical glandular lesions.

Myoepithelial cell cocktail (p63+SMA) for the evaluation of sclerosing breast lesions.

Sclerosing breast lesions may sometimes mimic the appearance of infiltrating carcinoma due to the entrapment of ductular structures in a fibrotic core. The immunohistochemical detection of the outer myoepithelial cell layer that is indicative of a non-infiltrating lesion is a valuable clue for the diagnosis of such ambiguous cases. The myoepithelial cell markers smooth muscle actin (SMA) and p63 are most commonly used since their specificity and sensitivity are well established. However, recent studies have indicated that some morphologically distinct myoepithelial cells fail to stain for SMA and that p63 positivity can be rarely expressed by a subset of malignant epithelial cells. Moreover, SMA can also be positive in stromal myofibroblastic cells and normal vessels that can be found close to the entrapped ductules and might be erroneously interpreted as myoepithelial cells. In this study, we used a double-immunolabeling technique combining both SMA and p63 antibodies (myoepithelial cell cocktail), in order to investigate whether this technique is advantageous over either marker used alone, in diagnosing sclerosing breast lesions. Our results indicate that p63 alone is not a useful myoepithelial cell marker if applied in large sclerosing breast lesions, however, in smaller lesions it is still of high value. On the contrary, SMA proved significantly useful in the evaluation of myoepithelial cells in larger but not in smaller complex sclerosing lesions. The myoepithelial cell cocktail has a staining sensitivity identical to that of SMA. Nevertheless, in a certain number of cases the cocktail might be useful in differentiating myoepithelial cells from stromal myofibroblasts or vascular smooth muscle cells due to the false impression of a higher staining intensity of the cocktail resulting from the expression of both nuclear and cytoplasmic/membranous antibodies that occupy a wider area of the cell under control.

Evaluation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Cip1 in epithelial ovarian tumors of low malignant potential and adenocarcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: In view of the controversial information on the significance of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Cip1 in ovarian cancer, we conducted a retrospective investigation to clarify the relationships of this protein to proliferation rate, clinicopathological variables and prognosis of epithelial ovarian tumors. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissue from 43 ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (LMP) and 82 primary ovarian adenocarcinomas were stained immunohistochemically for p21Cip1, p53 protein and Ki-67 antigen (a marker of cell proliferation). RESULTS: p21Cip1 levels were significantly higher in LMP tumors (p<0.001) as well as in early stage adenocarcinomas (p=0.021) and those associated with minimal residual disease (p=0.008). However, no relationship existed between p21Cip1 expression and the proliferation rate of adenocarcinomas or LMP tumors. In the vast majority of LMP tumors p21Cip1 expression was not accompanied by p53 accumulation. This p21Cip1-positive/p53-negative phenotype prevailed in the early stage (p=0.026), lower grade (p=0.018) adenocarcinomas as well as in those left with minimal residual disease (p=0.059). In patients with lower grade adenocarcinomas, decreased p21Cip1 expression was adversely related to poor overall survival on its own (p=0.0500) and when combined with p53 protein overexpression (p=0.0323). In multivariate analysis, only the stage remained as the independent predictor of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased p21Cip1 expression is related to several indicators of aggressiveness in ovarian adenocarcinomas and seems to be differentially regulated in LMP tumors and adenocarcinomas. On the contrary, deregulation of p21Cip1 expression does not seem to participate in the pathogenesis of LMP tumors. Furthermore, although p21Cip1 alone or combined with p53 is of prognostic significance in lower grade adenocarcinomas, it does not appear to add to the information gained from traditional prognosticators.

Silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions in benign and malignant prostatic lesions.

Thirty-six transvesical or transurethral prostatectomy cases were selected from the histopathology files of the Laiko General Hospital. Among the 36 cases, there were 10 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (8 patients having distinct areas of adenosis) and 26 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma (6 grade I, 13 grades II and III and 7 grade IV carcinomas). From each case, silver-binding nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) have been counted in sections of routinely processed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. The mean AgNOR count per case was calculated. For the cases of prostatic hyperplasia, the mean AgNOR count was found to be 2.95 +/- 0.42, for adenosis 3.45 +/- 0.56, for grade I adenocarcinoma 4.97 +/- 0.74, for grades II and III 7.31 +/- 0.81 and for grade IV adenocarcinomas 11.41 +/- 1.68. This difference in the mean AgNOR count was found to be of statistical significance (p < 0.001) between adenosis and grade I adenocarcinomas and between grade II and III and grade IV adenocarcinomas. It appears that AgNOR counting may prove to be of benefit in differentiating between some benign and malignant prostatic lesions and that it might provide information concerning the biological behavior of prostatic adenocarcinomas.

Correlation of colposcopy and histology in cervical biopsies positive for CIN and/or HPV infection.

The purpose of our study was the investigation of colposcopic findings in 108 patients with histologically proved CIN and/or HPV infection in colposcopically directed cervical punch biopsies. The chi square test with Yates' correction was used for the statistical analysis. In 82 cases there were histological changes suggestive of HPV infection, 91 cases showed CIN while in 65 cases CIN was superimposed on HPV infection. The sensitivity of colposcopy was 89% for the detection of CIN and 61% for HPV. In 45% of CIN cases colposcopy underdiagnosed the CIN level, especially in more severe lesions (level II or higher, P < 0.001). We have also observed that the HPV-related colposcopic findings significantly increased the probability of underdiagnosing CIN (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that biopsy is always necessary in order to establish the diagnosis and determine the severity of CIN, especially if the colposcopist suspects HPV infection. We have also shown that many cases of HPV infection are not detected by colposcopy, because they are masked by the coexisting CIN.

Comparative assessment of proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunostaining and of nucleolar organizer region staining in transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder. Correlation with other conventional prognostic pathologic parameters.

The expression of two cell proliferation indices, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), using the monoclonal antibody PC-10 in the immunoperoxidase method, and the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs), using the colloid silver nitrate staining technique, was assessed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material of 50 transitional cell urinary bladder carcinomas. A relationship was found between the histologic grade and each of the two indices used. A significant difference was observed, particularly between carcinomas of grade II and III (p < 0.001). A relationship was also demonstrated between each of PC-10 and AgNOR scores and the clinical stage, but it was attributed mostly to the close correlation of the latter with the histologic grade of these tumors. The linear correlation coefficient between PC-10 and AgNOR scores was 0.757 (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that PC-10 and AgNOR scores may be important prognostic indices in urinary bladder cancer.