The prognostic value of E-cadherin and Ki-67 compared to standard histopathologic examination in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the prognostic value of expression levels of selected biomarkers and their statistical analysis in relation to survival and standard histopathologic examination and other clinicopathologic variables in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Background: Worldwide, bladder cancer is a frequent malignant disease with rising incidence. Characteristic invasiveness and high recurrence rates call for more diagnostic methods to obtain more accurate information. Prognosis is affected by a significant interpersonal variability of the disease. For this reason, constant search for alternative and better diagnostic methods is essential.

Methods: We analysed cancer tissue from patients with Ta and T1 bladder cancer. E-cadherin and Ki-67 expression levels were analysed using immunohistochemical staining. The expression levels quantified to a percentual amount were statistically analysed in relation to survival and their frequency distribution in the study group.

Results: E-cadherin and Ki-67 expression levels show high association with tumor stage and grade (p<0.001), in contrast, the association with recurrence has proven insignificant. Patients with non-aberrant biomarker expression levels have much higher survival rates than the cases with aberrant expression.

Conclusion: Low expression levels of Ki-67 and high expression levels of E-cadherin positively affect survival of patients, whereas aberrant expressions pose poorer prognosis (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 33).

Keywords: E-cadherin; Ki-67; NMIBC; survival prognosis..