BACKGROUND: B7 homolog 1 (B7H1) plays an important role in regulating tumor immunity. The purpose of this study was to probe the relationship between B7H1 expression and clinical outcomes in urothelial bladder cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigated 110 urothelial bladder cancer cases. The expressions of B7H1 in tumors were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The correlation between B7H1 expression and survival rate was analyzed by log-rank test.

RESULTS: B7H1 expression was significantly increased in cancerous tissues compared to normal tissues (p<0.05). B7H1 expression was not associated with sex, age, diameter, or the combination of these factors (p>0.05). The positive expression of B7-H1 was positively correlated with grade, stage, recurrence, and metastasis (p<0.05). The RT-PCR results were consistent with the immunohistochemistry outcomes. Furthermore, the expression of B7H1 in tumors was highly correlated with the survival rate (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Expression of B7H1 is correlated with clinicopathologic features in bladder cancer. Up-regulation of B7H1 can result in progression and recurrence of urothelial bladder cancer.

Keywords: Antigens, CD274