Association of Therapeutic Radiation with Golgi Complex Hypertrophy in Human Urinary Bladder Carcinomas: Quantitative Electron Microscopy Studies

The volume (Vv) and surface area (surface density; Sv) of the Golgi complex were measured by electron microscopy stereologic techniques in 17 patients with urinary bladder transitional cell carcinomas. Seven patients were irradiated prior to surgical removal, 4 had recurrent carcinomas that arose from previously irradiated bladder urothelium, and the remaining 6 patients had bladder carcinoma but no prior history of therapeutic irradiation. There were significant differences in the Vv and Sv of Golgi complexes per unit of cytoplasmic volume in carcinomas from irradiated and nonirradiated patients (p < 0.01). In carcinomas obtained from irradiated urinary bladders, the Vv was 3.45 +/- 0.24% (mean +/- SE). In contrast, the Vv was 0.98 +/- 0.15% for tumors in the nonirradiated group. Sv values were 1.51 +/- 0.09 microm2/microm3 in carcinomas from irradiated bladders, and in the nonirradiated group, the mean Sv was 0.76 +/- 0.07 microm2/microm3. These results support the hypothesis that therapeutic irradiation to the urinary bladder induces hyperplasia of Golgi complexes.