Immunohistochemical Maspin Expression in Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder.

PURPOSE Evaluation of Maspin marker in TCC of urine bladder, its grade, and stage, and also to compare Maspin expression in normal transitional cell epithelium and TCC in patients admitted to Modarres Hospital from 2009 to 2012. MATERIALS & METHODS Paraffin blocks of bladder tissue, from total number of 76 patients with TCC, and normal epithelium were included. Slides were prepared, and stained by Immunohistochemical staining method for Maspin marker, and assessed by two independent pathologists. RESULTS Maspin marker expression had been reduced in bladder tissue with TCC, which corresponded to the grade and stage. Normal urothelial mucosa was strongly Maspin-positive, while the intensity of staining in TCC was reduced as both the grade and stage were increased. CONCLUSION Maspin expression, by Immunohistochemistry method, is reduced in TCCs of the urinary bladder. There was a meaningful reverse relationship between the intensity of Maspin expression and tumor stage. It can be suggested that evaluation of the Maspin marker can be helpful as a prognostic factor and also to determine the low and high grade TCC in difficult cases.