Molecular prognostic factors in bladder cancer.

In this paper the predictive value of molecular prognostic parameters for bladder cancer is discussed. DNA ploidy has additional prognostic value for grade 2 tumors, irrespective of stage, with aneuploid tumors having a poor prognosis. Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can be used as a prognostic factor for the group of superficial tumors. Both abnormal E-cadherin and retinoblastoma (RB) expression have additional prognostic value for invasive tumors. The exact predictive value for the superficial tumors needs further study. The results with respect to p53 are conflicting and its exact role especially in the progression of pT1g3 tumors has to be clarified. In view of the discordance concerning its prognostic value, c-erbB-2 overexpression also needs further study. It appears that at this moment only a few molecular markers seem to have potential prognostic value, but their precise clinical relevance has to be studied more extensively. In particular the value of progression markers in the superficial TCC needs more attention.