Correlation of P53 status with histological grading of urinary Bladder Transitional cell carcinoma

Bladder cancer is one of the most common urological malignancies. Ninety percent of the bladder tumors are transitional cell carcinomas. The most important molecular mechanism in the development of carcinogenesis is the Deletions or inactivation of the cancer suppressor genes. Several suppressor gene loci have been closely associated with bladder cancer. These include p53 on chromosome 17p, retinoblastoma (Rb) gene on chromosome 13q and genes on chromosome 9. Bladder cancers with p53 abnormalities appear to have more aggressive behaviour. The aim of the present study is to assess the p53 status in transitional cell carcinoma according to the histologic grade. A retrospective and prospective study with regard to the neoplastic lesions of the urinary bladder was done in the Department of Pathology. A total of 734 urinary bladder lesions were reported in the department of Pathology and among these, 419 (57%) were bladder tumors. In our study, Transitional cell carcinoma was the most common (81%, n=334) neoplasm. Out of 334 Transitional cell carcinoma cases, p53 status was done for 200 cases. P53 was positive in 74 (37%) lesions. P53 over expression correlated with tumor grading, the higher the grade more is p53 expression and poorer the prognosis.