Abstract
Purpose: To determine if collagenase 3 expression is associated with stage progression and prognosis of bladder cancer. Patients and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for collagenase 3 was carried out on serial sections from specimens of 42 patients (32 males and 10 females) who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer (median follow-up, 67.2 ± 5.99 months). Results: Immunohistochemical expression of collagenase 3 was detected in 13 (31%) patients. Pathological stage was pT2 in 12 (28.57%) patients, pT3a in 7 (16.6%), pT3b in 21 (50%) and pT4 in 2 (4.76%). Four tumours (9.52%) were grade II and 38 (90.47%) were grade III. Stage and tumours >3 cm in size were associated with bladder cancer progression-free survival and overall survival. We did not find any statistical differences with collagenase 3 expression related with stage and size. Conclusions: Immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 in invasive bladder cancer is not useful as marker for transformation and invasion. These findings should be evaluated in large multicentre prospective trials.