Value of P53 Protein as a Tumor Marker in Patients with Transitional Cell Bladder Cancer

Objective: The aim of this work is to determine the value of P53 as a biochemical marker in patients with bladder cancer. Patients and Methods: This study was conducted on 30 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of different grades and 10 healthy men as a control group who had been admitted to the Urology Department, Benha Faculty of Medicine between August 1999 and November 2001. The mean age of the patients was 56.3 years (range 38-80 years). They were evaluated by history taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, radiological examination and cysto-scopy-guided biopsies. P53 was determined in the serum preoperatively and postoperatively after 21 days and 6 months, as well as in the tissue specimens taken by transurethral resection or by radical cystectomy. Results: The mean serum P53 value in the control group was 10.0 ± 1.83 Pg/ml. In the patients with grade-1 tumors it was 25.6 ± 4.8 Pg/ml compared to 44.8 ± 14.73 Pg/ml and 131.1 ± 15.28 Pg/ml for grade-2 and grade-3 tumors, respectively (P <0.05). In tumors larger than 2 cm the mean serum P53 value was 87.54 ± 10.81 Pg/ml, while intumors less than 2 cm it was 32.91 ± 2.32 Pg/ml (P <0.05). The mean serum P53 value in a single tumor was 27.8 ± 7.1 Pg/ml compared to 102.3 ± 20.4 Pg/ml in multiple tumors (P <0.05). On follow-up after 21 days the mean serum P53 value was 14.0 ± 2.71 Pg/ml in grade-1 tumors, 17.0 ± 3.79 Pg in grade-2 and 55.3 ± 12.4 Pg/ml in grade-3 tumors (P <0.05). Eleven patients developed recurrence; their mean serum P53 was 125.6 ± 13.46 Pg/ml preoperatively and significantly decreased to 59.9 ± 18.2 Pg/ml postoperatively, but then rose again to 91.5 ± 20.1 Pg/ml. The mean P53 in the tissues of the control group was 11.3 ± 2.31 Pg/ml, while the tissues of the cancer patients showed values of 29.8 ± 4.42 Pg/ml, 46.6 ± 11.08 and 140.2 ± 14.85 Pg/ml for grade-1, grade-2 and grade-3 tumors, respectively (P <0.05). Conclusion: P53 seems to be a promising tumor marker for transitional cell bladder cancer and a valuable tool for identifying subgroups of patients that may have a poor prognosis. Valeur de la protine P53 comme marqueur de la tumeur chez les patients avec un cancer de la vessie a cellules transitionnelles Objectif: Le but de ce travail est de dterminer la valeur du P53 comme marqueur biochimique chez les patients avec cancer de la vessie. Patients et Mthodes: Cette tude a t mene sur 30 malades avec carcinome cellules transitionnelles (TCC) de grades diffrents et 10 hommes sains comme un groupe tmoin qui avait t admis dans le Dpartement d\'Urologie, Facult de Mdecine de Benha, Egypte, entre aot 1999 et novembre 2001. L\'ge moyen des malades tait 56,3 ans (38-80 annes). Ils ont t valus en relevant l'histoire de la maladie, l'examen clinique, une enqute de laboratoire, les examens radiologiques et cystobiopsies. Un dosage du P53 srique a t ralis en pr et post opratoire aprs 21 jours et 6 mois, aussi bien que dans les spcimens du tissu prises par r