Analysis of genetic alterations in normal bladder urothelium.

Objectives: To determine whether normal mucosa had already acquired genetic changes, we analyzed the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and chromosomal changes in normal urothelium from patients with bladder cancer and those without any history of bladder cancer.

Methods: Sixteen patients with bladder cancer and 15 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia were included in this study. Tumor tissue, as well as macroscopically normal mucosa, was examined histopathologically.