Metallothionein-1 and-2 Expression in Cadmium or Arsenic Derived Human Malignant Urothelial Cells and Tumor Heterotransplants and as a Prognostic Indicator in Human Bladder Cancer

ow nloaded from 2 The goal of this study was to determine if the expression of the MT-1/2 proteins might serve as a biomarker for the development of bladder cancer. A retrospective analysis of MT-1/2 staining was performed on 343 tissue sections from patients referred for the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The specimens were subdivided into 6 categories; benign, dysplastic, low grade cancer, high grade cancer with no evidence of invasion, high grade cancer with evidence of invasion, and carcinoma in situ. There was no expression of MT-1/2 in benign lesions and low grade cancers, a low incidence of expression in dysplastic lesions and high grade cancers with no evidence of muscle invasion, and a significantly increased incidence of MT-1/2 in high grade cancers that had invaded the underlying matrix. The expression of MT-1/2 varied in intensity from sample to sample and was focal in its expression. It was concluded from these findings that MT-1/2 may be a prognostic marker for cancers that are progressing to invade the underlyin