In order to find additional ways to classify bladder cancer, multiparameter analysis with antibodies against urothelial associated-glycoproteins (UAGAb: Uro1, -5, -9, -10; Signet) and cytokeratins (CKAb: KL1, Immunotech) were used in parallel with DNA staining. Single cell suspensions of 21 bladder cancer specimens (4pTaG1, 9pTaG2, 1pT1G2, 2 > pT2G2, 5 > pT2G3) were stained. Preliminary data showed that the proportion of UAGAb positive cells have to be related to the pan-urothelial marker Uro5, since percentage of urothelial cells was variable (30-97%). Phenotypic differences found in different stages of tumor will be described. Selection of tumor cells by UAG did result in higher precision to determine tumor S-phase fraction, and helped select tetraploid tumors. The methodology is best applicable to pTa and pT1-tumors and prospective analysis of these tumors has started.
Antigens, Neoplasm Carcinoma, Transitional Cell