Immunohistochemical demonstration of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and its correlation with grading and staging on tissue sections of urinary bladder carcinomas.

In 150 transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the urinary bladder, 50 each of Grades 1, 2, and 3, the content of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was examined immunocytochemically and correlated to grading and staging. Fifty-seven percent of the TCC contained CEA-positive tumor cells. Their distribution in tumor tissue is described. They were found in 24% of Grade 1 cases, in 72% of Grade 2 carcinomas, and in 76% of Grade 3 tumors. None of the Grade 1 cases contained more than 10% CEA-positive cells, whereas 34% and 40% of the Grade 2 and 3 tumors, respectively, revealed more than 10% CEA-positive tumor cells. According to the correlation found between grading and staging, the percentage of TCC containing CEA-positive tumor cells was 34% in pTA, 59% in pT1, and 80% in pT2/3 tumors. The results show a correlation between CEA content of tumor tissue and histopathologic malignancy in TCC of urinary bladder.