Abstract
Introduction: Bladder cancer (BC) is a common urologic cancer. Early diagnosis of bladder cancer is critical to improving patient outcomes. Researchers have begun a search for an appropriate marker suitable for the screening of the bladder cancer, which should be specific, sensitive, reproducible, non-invasive and at an acceptable cost. To find the genes that are expressed differently in BC is one of the best ways to create new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Aim: The aim of this study was to use a reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain (RT-PCR) assay for the detection of the genes that are overexpressed in the peripheral blood and tissue samples of bladder cancer and compared to normal bladder tissues and blood. Subjects and Methods: One hundred sixty individuals were included in this study and divided into two groups; group I : included eighty patients with bladder cancer were studied in both bladder tissue biopsies and blood sample, 80 non-tumor tissue biopsies were taken from those 80 cases as a control and group II: include eightyhealthy control. A quantitative real-time (RT-PCR) assay was used to detect several genes expression which include cytokeratin 19 (CK19), cytokeratin 20 (CK20), survivin, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and Humanin (H) in the peripheral blood and tissue samples of bladder cancer and compared to normal bladder tissues. Results: For all parameters, the malignant group was significantly different from the control groups. There is a significant positive correlation between mRNA level expression of CK20, CK19 survivin, hTERT and H 6 in blood and tissue of the same patient. There is a significant increase in each of Ck19, CK20, Survivin, EGFR and H6 expression in blood and tissue with advancing tumors [grade G3] as compared to low-grade cancers [G1 and G2] (P <= 0.05). The expression levels of the Ck19, CK20, Survivin, EGFR and H6 in blood and tissue were significantly lower in the non-invasive tumors [pTa/pTI] than in the invasive tumors [pT2/pT3] (P <= 0.05). Concerning the mRNA of H10 expression in blood was higher in the invasive group than in the non-invasive group (P <= 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study identified some genes that can be used as molecular biomarkers or target genes in Egyptian bladder cancer patients.