Original Article

Association of nucleophosmin/B23 with bladder cancer recurrence based on immunohistochemical assessment in clinical samples

Ke-hung Tsui, Horng-heng Juang, Tsong-hai Lee, Phei-lang Chang, Chien-lun Chen, Benjamin Yat-ming Yung

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the possible correlation of nucleophosmin/B23 expression with bladder carcinoma recurrence.
Methods: Surgically-resected bladder tumors staged pTa to pT4 were examined for nucleophosmin/B23 expression by immuno-histochemistry. The study group consisted of 132 consecutive patients surgically treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between December 1998 and November 1999. The mean follow up was 72 months (range: 48-84 months).
Results: Nuclear nucleophosmin/B23 staining was detected in 96% of advanced stage and poorly-differentiated tumors. Higher nucleophosmin/B23 levels were linked to more advanced tumor stages, grades, poor prognosis, and likelihood of recurrence (P<0.05). The Cox multivariate analysis indicated the nucleophosmin/B23 expression as an independent indicator for tumor recurrence (P=0.009).
Conclusion: The results suggest that nucleophosmin/B23 is a favorable prognostic indicator for bladder cancer. Nucleophosmin/B23 could be a useful molecular tumor marker for predicting bladder cancer recurrence.
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