THE MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTICS OF BLADDER CANCER IN YOUNG PATIENTS

Purpose

The molecular characteristics of bladder cancer in children and young adults remain largely undefined. We sought to identify common molecular changes in bladder tumors in young patients using standard immunohistochemical and interphase cytogenetic methods.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 73 bladder tumors removed from patients younger than 30 years for the p53 tumor suppressor gene product using immunohitochemical techniques and numerical aberrations of chromosomes 9, 17, X and Y.

Results

Regardless of stage, immunohistochemical evidence of p53 gene product over expression was found in the majority of tumors studied. Numerical abberations (mosomy) of chromosome 9 were rare. Aneuploidy of chromosome 17 was common, particularly in carcinoma in situ and invasive bladder cancer.

Conclusions

These data suggest that immunohistochemical evidence of p53 gene product over expression is common in bladder cancer in young patients. Further prospective analysis of lesions in this population may help to establish a comprehensive molecular progression model for urothelial neoplasms.