PTEN deletions are related to disease progression and unfavourable prognosis in early bladder cancer.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of deletions of the tumour suppressor gene PTEN in bladder cancer.

Methods And Results: A tissue microarray with 686 bladder cancers was analysed for PTEN deletions by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. PTEN mutations were analysed in nine tumours with heterozygous PTEN deletion.