ABO (H) blood group antigens and carcinoembryonic antigens as indicators of malignant potential in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Immunoperoxidase methods were used to study ABO(H) blood group antigens and carcinoembryonic antigens in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. In our study absence of blood group antigens in cancer tissues was not found to be correlated with histologic grade, stage and survival rate in patients with bladder carcinoma, while it was correlated with subsequent intravesical recurrences. In contrast, the presence of carcinoembryonic antigens in cancer tissues was correlated well with histologic grade, stage and survival rate. Our results suggest that immunoperoxidase detection of blood group antigens could not predict poor survival. In contrast, immunoperoxidase detection of carcinoembryonic antigens is of prognostic value in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.