The expression of Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (β-HCG) in human urothelial carcinoma

INTRODUCTION Studies regarding the immuno-histological expression and relevance of Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (=-HCG) in urothelial carcinoma are few. There is also no clear cut way of predicting exactly which superficial urothelial carcinomas would subsequently recur or progress and which muscle-invasive urothelial tumours would progress. The objective of the study was to study the immunohistological expression of =-HCG in urothelial carcinoma with regards to grade, category and outcome following treatment METHODS The expression of =-HCG in urothelial carcinomas of 86 patients was studied with regards to grade, stage and outcome using an immunohistological (ABC) method and formalin fixed/paraffin embedded tumours. RESULTS Of the 86 tumours (55 superficial and 31 muscle-invasive) studied 45, 16 and 26 were graded as G1, G2, and G3 respectively. Thirteen of the 55 superficial tumours were positively stained for β=-HCG and 42 negatively stained. Twenty of the 31 muscle-invasive tumours studied were positively stained for β=-HCG and 11 were negative. Of the 13 β=-HCG positive superficial tumours only one did not recur at follow up and 12 subsequently recurred, of the 42 β=-HCG negative superficial tumours 19 did not recur and 23 recurred. Only one of twenty patients with β=-HCG positive muscle-invasive tumours survived; 6 of 11 patients with β=-HCG negative muscle-invasive tumours survived. The results indicate that positive staining of the tumours was more commonly associated with tumours of higher grade, higher stage and inferior outcome. CONCLUSION The Immunohistological expression of β=-HCG would likely predict superficial tumours that would recur and muscle-invasive tumours with inferior outcome.