Prognostic Significance of Nestin Expression in pT1 High-Grade Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma Patients Treated with Intravesical BCG

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Possible roles of nestin expression in terms of predicting intravesical BCG therapy response inT1 high grade bladder cancer patients were investigated. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: T1 high grade bladder cancerpatients who were treated with intravesical BCG between 1990-2009 were included. Immunohistochemical stainingfor nestin expression was performed. Nestin(+) and nestin(-) patients were compared in terms of recurrenceand progression rates. <br/><b>Results</b>: Sixty-three patients were included and median follow-up time was twenty-fivemonths. After staining; 33 patients (52.4%) were classified as nestin (+) and 30 (47.6%) as (-). Nestin (+) patientswere more likely to recur compared to nestin (-) patients (60.6% vs. 30%, p<0.05). Progression rates were alsohigher in nestin (+) patients, although this result did not reach statistical significance (15.2 % vs. 10 %, p=0.710).<br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Nestin expression, which seems effective in predicting recurrence, appears to have a potentialrole in the urothelial carcinoma tumorigenesis. Patients with high grade bladder cancer and positive nestinexpression need close follow-up and might be informed about more tendency to recur. Further comprehensivestudies including larger patient cohorts may clarify the role of nestin in bladder cancer.