Studies of A, B or O (H) surface antigen specificity: Carcinoma in situ and non-malignant lesions of the bladder

A, B or O (H) antigens identical to those that designate blood groups have been shown to be present on normal urothelial cells. Since the loss of these antigens, as measured by the specific red cell adherence test, has been associated with an increased malignant potential of low stage bladder carcinomas it was considered important to examine the specificity of this test by applying it to non-malignant bladder lesions as well as to specimens of carcinoma in situ in which gross papillary lesions might not be present. Cells lining the lesions of cystitis cystica and cystitis glandularis, appearing to be normal histologically, also were found to be positive for the presence of the A, B or O (H) antigens in all samples. In contrast, 4 specimens of squamous metaplasia, also appearing normal histologically, were negative by the specific red cell adherence testing. Finally, 7 of 8 specimens of carcinoma in situ were antigen-negative, with the remaining lesion showing only minimal adherence of red cells. Further analysis along similar lines is needed to determine the specificity of the specific red cell adherence test to define more clearly its clinical usefulness.