Over expression of metallothionein predicts resistance of transitional cell carcinoma of bladder to intravesical mitomycin therapy.

Purpose: Metallothionein, a low molecular weight intracellular protein, binds mitomycin with high affinity protecting the tumor DNA. We prospectively studied the relationship of metallothionein expression in bladder transitional cell carcinoma and resistance to intravesical mitomycin.

Materials And Methods: A series of 45 consecutive patients with superficial transitional cell carcinoma treated with intravesical mitomycin were studied.