A comparison of clinical course with blood group antigen testing by specific red cell adherence and immunoperoxidase in ureteral and renal pelvic tumors.

Specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter and renal pelvis from 20 patients were tested for blood group antigenicity using immunoperoxidase and specific red cell adherence methods. The results of antigen testing were correlated with tumor stage and grade as well as the subsequent clinical course of the patients. The specific red cell adherence test was negative in 80 per cent and the immunoperoxidase test was negative in 40 per cent of all tumors. Of the 4 patients with positive specific red cell adherence tests 3 had high grade (II to III), invasive tumors as did 7 of 12 with tumors that were positive by immunoperoxidase testing. Blood group antigen testing did not prove helpful in predicting the clinical course of our patients. In addition, a careful review of previously published data does not support the conclusion that blood group antigen testing is a valuable predictor of upper tract tumor aggressiveness.