Serum interleukin-18 and nitric oxide activity in bladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Both interleukin-18 and nitric oxide are multifunctional molecules that are involved in the different steps of carcinogenesis. METHODS: In the present study, we measured serum interleukin-18 and nitric oxide activity in 51 bladder cancer patients with different tumor stage and grade, and in 8 healthy controls. Serum nitrite-nitrate levels were measured as an index of nitric oxide generation. RESULTS: Serum interleukin-18 levels were significantly higher in bladder cancer patients when compared to the control subjects (p > 0.05). Serum interleukin-18 levels were found to be higher in patients with Ta stage than patients with T1 and T2, T3, T4 stages and in patients with grade 1 tumors than patients with grade 2 and grade 3 tumors, but this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum nitrite + nitrate levels between bladder cancer patients and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum interleukin-18 levels in bladder carcinoma patients may be a result of host defence mechanism against the growth and progression of bladder cancer cells.     

Immunohistochemical evaluation of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor in noninvasive and early invasive urothelial papillary neoplasia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) expression in urothelial papilloma and in noninvasive and early invasive papillary carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: The study included 40 cases of papillary neoplasia of the urinary bladder subdivided into 10 cases of urothelial papilloma (UP); 10 of papillary carcinoma, grade 1; 10, grade 2 (G2); and 10, grade 3 (G3). Invasion of the subepithelial connective tissue was present in 5 cases of G2 and 7 cases of G3. According to the 2002 revision of the TNM system, these cases were defined as T1 and the others as Ta. uPAR expression was evaluated with an immunohistochemical technique in 5-microns-thick tissue sections. RESULTS: Difference in the distribution of positive cases in the 4 groups were statistically significant and greatest in G3. Statistically significant differences were also observed between Ta and T1 cases in terms of uPAR intensity. CONCLUSION: Detection of immunoreactivity for uPAR was associated with high grade UP carcinomas. These data indicate that uPAR is potentially an important prognostic factor in bladder carcinoma.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">P53</Emphasis> mutations in urinary bladder cancer patients from Central Poland

The present study aimed at detection of P53 gene mutations in cells of urinary bladder neoplasms, as the mutations may be regarded as an independent prognostic factor for progression and recurrence of tumours. In the study, 82 patients with clinically diagnosed urinary bladder tumour were included. The control was composed of DNA samples from urine and blood of 202 healthy patients. Exons 5-8 of the P53 gene were screened for mutations by using multitemperature single-strand conformational polymorphism (MSSCP) analysis. Samples with abnormal MSSCP patterns were subjected to direct sequencing. The frequency of mutations in exons 5-8 of the P53 gene in patients with bladder cancer was lower (3.3% in grade G1, 24% in G2, and 39% in G3) than the data reported in the literature. We found a higher percentage of polymorphism at codon 213 of the P53 gene in bladder cancer patients (6%), compared with the values in the reference group (2.5%). These results were matched with those of the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis. In conclusion, mutations were found mainly in more advanced histopathological and clinical stages of the disease and at the CIS stage (carcinoma in situ). It cannot be excluded that the observed polymorphism at codon 213 may be a predisposing factor for urinary bladder carcinoma development.     

Identification of Nine Genomic Regions of Amplification in Urothelial Carcinoma,Correlation with Stage,and Potential Prognostic and Therapeutic Value

We performed a genome wide analysis of 164 urothelial carcinoma samples and 27 bladder cancer cell lines to identify copy number changes associated with disease characteristics, and examined the association of amplification events with stage and grade of disease. Multiplex inversion probe (MIP) analysis, a recently developed genomic technique, was used to study 80 urothelial carcinomas to identify mutations and copy number changes. Selected amplification events were then analyzed in a validation cohort of 84 bladder cancers by multiplex ligation-dependent probe assay (MLPA). In the MIP analysis, 44 regions of significant copy number change were identified using GISTIC. Nine gene-containing regions of amplification were selected for validation in the second cohort by MLPA. Amplification events at these 9 genomic regions were found to correlate strongly with stage, being seen in only 2 of 23 (9%) Ta grade 1 or 1–2 cancers, in contrast to 31 of 61 (51%) Ta grade 3 and T2 grade 2 cancers, p<0.001. These observations suggest that analysis of genomic amplification of these 9 regions might help distinguish non-invasive from invasive urothelial carcinoma, although further study is required. Both MIP and MLPA methods perform well on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded DNA, enhancing their potential clinical use. Furthermore several of the amplified genes identified here (ERBB2, MDM2, CCND1) are potential therapeutic targets.     

ELISA定量分析尿液BLCA-1/-4水平诊断膀胱癌的临床价值分析

目的:探讨膀胱癌患者尿液膀胱特异性核基质蛋白(bladder cancer specific nuclear matrix proteins,BLCA)-1/-4水平及其临床应用价值。方法:本研究纳入38例膀胱癌患者、40例正常对照组。采集受试者尿液样本,通过竞争性酶联免疫吸附法(enzymelinked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)定量分析尿液中BLCA-1和BLCA-4的水平,绘制受试者工作曲线,确定cut-off值。结果:膀胱癌患者尿液BLCA-1/-4水平均显著高于对照组(P0.001);当cut-off值取0.859 ng/mL时,BLCA-1诊断膀胱癌的敏感性和特异性分别为71%(27/38)、90%(36/40)。肌层浸润性膀胱癌患者尿液BLCA-1较非肌层浸润性膀胱癌患者水平显著升高(P0.001),但不同分级膀胱癌患者尿液BLCA-4水平无显著差异(P0.05)。高级别膀胱癌患者尿液BLCA-4水平较低级别膀胱癌患者显著升高(P0.05),但不同分期膀胱癌患者尿液BLCA-4水平无显著差异(P0.05)。以cut-off为0.859 ng/mL时,BLCA-1诊断膀胱癌的敏感性和特异性分别为71%(27/38)、90%(36/40)。以cut-off为0.620 ng/mL时,BLCA-4诊断膀胱癌的敏感性和特异性分别为76.3%(29/38)、97.5%(39/40)。联合检测尿液BLCA-1和BLCA-4诊断膀胱癌的敏感性和特异性分别为84.2%(32/38)和100%(40/40),准确度为0.923(77/78),阳性预测值为100%(32/32),阴性预测值为86.9%(40/46)以及YOUDEN指数分别为0.842。结论:膀胱癌患者尿液BLCA-1和BLCA-4水平显著升高,且敏感性和特异性均较高。联合检测尿液BLCA-1和BLCA-4较单一检测用于诊断膀胱癌的临床应用价值更高。     

Morphometry of nucleoli as an indicator for grade of malignancy of bladder tumors

To establish a new indicator for the classification of human urinary bladder cancers, the nucleoli of normal epithelial and neoplastic cells were analyzed, using morphometric techniques. By electron microscopy, the nucleolar profiles of cells from grade 2 and 3 transitional cell carcinomas were often small and irregular. Morphometry showed that the nucleolar volumes, nucleolar/nuclear volume ratios, volume densities of various nucleolar components, and the numbers of fibrillar centers (FCs) altered significantly with an increase in tumor grade. In particular, an increase in FC numbers in the nuclei of higher grade tumors was associated with a decrease in individual volume. The number of FCs in intact urothelial cells obtained from patients with bladder tumors is significantly larger than in the normal urothelial cells. This may be related to the multicentric origin of bladder cancers. These results suggest that morphometric analysis of nucleoli is useful in evaluating the degree of differentiation and invasive capacity of human bladder tumor cells. In particular, the number and individual volume of FCs may be an indicator of tumor malignancy.     

Morphometry of nucleoli as an indicator for grade of malignancy of bladder tumors

To establish a new indicator for the classification of human urinary bladder cancers, the nucleoli of normal epithelial and neoplastic cells were analyzed, using morphometric techniques. By electron microscopy, the nucleolar profiles of cells from grade 2 and 3 transitional cell carcinomas were often small and irregular. Morphometry showed that the nucleolar volumes, nucleolar/nuclear volume ratios, volume densities of various nucleolar components, and the numbers of fibrillar centers (FCs) altered significantly with an increase in tumor grade. In particular, an increase in FC numbers in the nuclei of higher grade tumors was associated with a decrease in individual volume. The number of FCs in intact urothelial cells obtained from patients with bladder tumors is significantly larger than in the normal urothelial cells. This may be related to the multicentric origin of bladder cancers. These results suggest that morphometric analysis of nucleoli is useful in evaluating the degree of differentiation and invasive capacity of human bladder tumor cells. In particular, the number and individual volume of FCs may be an indicator of tumor malignancy.     

Evaluation of human bladder tumors by ultrastructural morphometric techniques

To estimate the malignancy of the human urinary bladder tumors, various cellular components of normal and neoplastic bladder epithelial cells were examined using morphometric techniques at the electron microscopic level. Nuclear to cytoplasmic ratios were found to be 1:5 in normal epithelial cells, 1:4 in superficial grade 1 (G1) tumor cells, 1:3 in superficial grade 2 (G2) tumor cells and 1:2 in invasive grade 3 (G3) tumor cells. Nuclear volumes were largest in G3 tumor cells, but no differences were seen in cell volumes between normal epithelial and tumor cells. The volumes and surface areas of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and lysosomes per cell decreased progressively from G1 to G3 tumor cells. The volume density of tonofilaments was increased in G1, but decreased in G2 and G3 tumor cells. The cisternal thickness of the rER and Golgi complex was also increased in G1 tumor cells. From these results, it was concluded that morphometric analysis may be useful in evaluating the degree of differentiation and invasive potential of human bladder tumor cells in the low and intermediate risk groups.     

Radical surgical treatment of the urinary bladder cancer in patients over the age of 60--our experiences

The goal of the paper was the analysis of patients over the age of 60 suffering from the urinary bladder cancer that underwent radical surgical treatment of the urinary bladder and establishing urine derivation. In the 1972-2008 period 2405 patients with the urinary bladder cancer were treated, 296 (12.3%) of whom underwent radical surgical treatment. The average age was between 60 and 80 years--in 207 (70%) patients. In our patients there were 190 patients (91.6%) with transitional cell cancers. According to TNM classification, T3 stage in 92 (44.4%) patients and T2 stage in 85 (41%) patients were predominant in our study. According to histological criteria, the most common stage was G3 stage--in 151 (73%) patients. Radical cystectomy or combined with urethrectomy was performed in 178 (86%) patients. Unfortunately, in 12% of them (T3 and T4 stages) the inner iliac blood vessels were tied off due to a progressive cancer. The outer supravesical urine derivation (Bricker, U-tubing nephrostomy, and ureterocutaneostomy) was done in 163 (78.7%) patients. The inner derivation (Coffey, ureteroileosigmoidostomy, Mainz-Pouch II) was performed in 17 (8.2%) patients and neovesica (Hautmann, Studer) in 24 (11.5%)patients. There were 74 (35.7%) patients with early postoperative complications. Among them the most dominant were the surgical complications--in 28 (13.5%) patients and distant organ complications--in 22 (10.6%) patients. In 75 (36%)patients with negative nodes the survival rate was 55% after five years. In 73 (35%) patients with positive nodes the survival rate was 27% after five years.     

Evaluation of deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (DMBT1) gene expression in bladder carcinoma cases: preliminary study

This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of DMBT1 in bladder cancer and its correlation with clinico-pathological parameters analyzed in bladder carcinoma patients. We investigated DMBT1 in 56 paraffin embedded specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. We assessed DMBT1 gene expression at mRNA level by RT-PCR. Our results show 100% expression of DMBT1 in bladder carcinoma samples. Due to this preliminary results; gene expression was compared to tumor grade, and a significant difference was detected between grade 1 and 3 (p?=?0.028). The down-regulation of DMBT1 gene expression in carcinomas suggests the possible role in bladder cancer.     

Modal DNA values of normal and malignant urothelial cells of the bladder in relation to nuclear size

In a study of the correlation between mean nuclear size and DNA content in urinary bladder carcinoma, the modal DNA values of cell suspensions from 125 biopsies, obtained from 86 patients with malignant or normal urinary bladder epithelium, were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Light microscopic measurements of nuclear size were carried out on smears from the same material. The results were correlated to the histopathologic stage and grade. The mean nuclear volumes were significantly larger in diploid tumor cells than in cells of normal epithelium. Aneuploid tumors showed significantly larger nuclei than did diploid tumors. Although there was a significant correlation between increases in the nuclear volume and in the DNA content, there was some overlapping between various grades of malignancy: mean nuclear volumes in aneuploid grade 2 tumors did not differ from those in aneuploid grade 3 tumors. A combination of FCM and morphometry discriminated all but 16% of the tumors from the normal cases. It is concluded that FCM and morphometry are complementary and can be used for the objective characterization of urinary bladder carcinomas.     

The Lin28/let-7a/c-Myc pathway plays a role in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

We investigate the role of the Lin28/let-7a/c-Myc pathway in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Using RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry techniques, the levels of pre-let-7a, let-7a, Lin28 and c-Myc RNA and/or proteins were determined in samples of normal bladder tissue and bladder cancer. Expression of pre-let-7a was found to be negatively correlated with the pathological grade of bladder cancer, while let-7a showed a positive correlation with bladder cancer pathological grade. Expression of Lin28 RNA and protein was not significantly different between normal bladder tissue and low-grade transitional cell carcinoma of bladder (TCC) but the expression levels in high-grade TCC were remarkably increased. Expression of c-Myc RNA and protein was significantly higher in bladder cancer samples in comparison to normal bladder tissue without correlation with cancer differentiation. Expression of all the above RNAs and proteins showed no significant difference in Ta and T1 stages. The Lin28/let-7a/c-Myc pathway plays an important role in NMIBC. In particular, expression levels of let-7a correlate with the degree of cancer differentiation but not cancer stage.     

膀胱尿路上皮肿瘤合并2型糖尿病患者临床和病理特点的比较性研究

目的:对比分析膀胱尿路上皮肿瘤合并2型糖尿病患者的临床和病理特点,为临床诊疗工作提供一定的参考。方法:回顾性分析2015年1月至2019年2月于我院泌尿外科手术治疗且经病理确诊为原发性膀胱尿路上皮肿瘤的患者资料,合并2型糖尿病的膀胱肿瘤患者59例设为糖尿病组(T2DM组),根据性别和年龄按照1:2的比例匹配同时期未合并2型糖尿病的膀胱肿瘤118例患者为非糖尿病组(NT2DM组),比较两组患者的临床特征和病理特点。结果:T2DM组的高血压患者比例和血肌酐值高于NT2DM组(P<0.05),而在教育程度、吸烟、饮酒、BMI、前列腺增生、泌尿系感染、血常规、肝功、尿常规、肿瘤大小、数量方面无明显统计学差异(P>0.05)。T2DM组和NT2DM组在膀胱尿路上皮肿瘤良恶性分类、肿瘤数量、肿瘤大小的构成比上无明显统计学差异(P>0.05);然而,对膀胱恶性肿瘤患者进行亚组分析显示,T2DM亚组中肌层浸润性癌的比例和高级别癌的比例明显高于NT2DM亚组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:2型糖尿病可能使膀胱癌的病理分级和分期更高,导致患者预后更差,临床上应更加关注膀胱恶性肿瘤合并2型糖尿病患者的诊治。     

Biological characterisation of superficial bladder cancer by bivariate cytokeratin 7/DNA analysis, flow cytometric assessment of MIB- 1, and an immunohistochemical study.

A total of 238 cases of bladder carcinoma stages Ta, Tis, T1 were submitted prospectively to multiparameter flow cytometry and immunohistochemical study in order to determine the biological aggressiveness of the tumour. DNA index (DI), S-phase fraction (SPF) obtained by bivariate cytokeratin 7/DNA analyses, and the immunohistochemical evaluation of p53 and MIB-1 were studied in relation to the traditional prognostic factors in bladder cancer (stage and grade). the variance analysis results showed that DNA aneuploidy was significantly associated with high stage (p = 0.0001), high grade (p = 0.0001), high SPF value > or = 5.5% (p = 0.0001), MIB-1 positivity > or = 31% (p = 0.0001) and high expression of p53 (staining involving > 50% of cells, p = 0.0001). Even if there was no statistical significance the hypotetraploid class (1.70 < DI < 1.89) showed poor prognostic biomarkers more frequently than the other aneuploid classes. Out of 238 cases, 101 were also submitted to flow cytometric measurement of MIB-1 (fMIB-1) to study the correlation between cell proliferation and DNA content. Data obtained from fresh, 3:1 methanol/acetone fixed samples were compared with values obtained from both cell cycle analysis methods and routine application of the MIB-1 immunostaining in histological sections. fMIB-1 values were positively correlated with SPF values (r = 0.801, p < 0.01) and S+G2M fraction (percentage of cells in S and in G2M phases) (r = 0.763, p < 0.01) but no correlation with paraffin sections was found. A fMIB-1 value > 7% was strongly associated with aneuploidy (p = 0.0001). The determination of DNA content coupled with the study of the epithelial (cytokeratin 7) and proliferative (MIB-1) markers could be useful in providing important information on the biological behaviour of superficial bladder tumours.     

Superficial bladder cancer therapy

Bladder cancer treatment remains a challenge despite significant improvements in preventing disease progression and improving survival. Intravesical therapy has been used in the management of superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder (i.e. Ta, T1, and carcinoma in situ) with specific objectives which include treating existing or residual tumor, preventing recurrence of tumor, preventing disease progression, and prolonging survival. The initial clinical stage and grade remain the main determinant factors in survival regardless of the treatment. Prostatic urethral mucosal involvement with bladder cancer can be effectively treated with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) intravesical immunotherapy. Intravesical chemotherapy reduces short-term tumor recurrence by about 20%, and long-term recurrence by about 7%, but has not reduced progression or mortality. Presently, BCG immunotherapy remains the most effective treatment and prophylaxis for TCC (Ta, T1, CIS) and reduces tumor recurrence, disease progression, and mortality. Interferons, Keyhole-limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bropirimine and Photofrin-Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) are under investigation in the management of TCC and early results are encouraging. This review highlights and summarizes the recent advances in therapy for superficial TCC.     

Stereological estimates of nuclear volume correlated with histopathological grading and prognosis of bladder tumour

The aim of this retrospective study is to provide morphometric data which make grading of urinary bladder tumours objective and reproducible by stereological estimation of nuclear volume using the principle of estimating of the volume of particles of arbitrary shape. The study includes 92 specimens: 12 from normal bladder mucosa, and 80 from bladder tumours (15 grade I, 45 grade II, 19 grade III and one grade IV according to Bergkvist et al. 1965). After standard fixation, embedding, sectioning and hematoxylin-eosin staining, an unbiased estimate of the mean volume of nuclei sampled with a change proportional to the volume: (Formula: see text) was calculated. Here l0 is the length of the intercept through a test point hitting a nucleus measured in a random direction through the test point. The weighted means of nuclear volume in bladder tumours are spread over a wide range and show a strong correlation with the Bergkvist grade. Moreover, the relationship between the weighted mean volume of nuclei in bladder tumours and the prognosis is very good. Only one of 35 patients with a mean nuclear volume below 300 micron 3 died of bladder cancer whereas 18 of 19 patients with a mean nuclear volume above 500 micron 3 developed invasives tumours or died of their disease. This simple and fast estimate of nuclear volume seems to provide objective data of high prognostic value.     

Multidimensional slit-scan detection of bladder cancer. Preliminary clinical results

A multidimensional slit-scan flow system was developed for the automated recognition of abnormal cells derived from cancer of the uterine cervix and its precursors. It provides great sensitivity in both its ability to recognize cellular abnormality and to deal with the myriad potential causes of false alarms in an automated flow system. While its initial application was the automated recognition of the spectrum of neoplasia in gynecologic cytology samples, a preliminary study was carried out using specimens obtained from the urinary bladder. Cellular material was collected by bladder irrigation and stained with the fluorochrome acridine orange. One hundred fifty-three bladder irrigation specimens, including 115 abnormal specimens containing cells derived from neoplastic lesions of the bladder epithelium, were analyzed. For the purposes of this study, abnormal specimens from the urinary bladder included specimens containing cells derived from the following lesions of the urothelium: dysplasia (atypical hyperplasia), carcinoma-in-situ, and transitional cell carcinoma, grades 1-3. Approximately 50,000 cells were analyzed for most specimens. Of the 38 presumed normal specimens (specimens containing only normal urothelial components), four were instrument classified abnormal. For the 69 specimens containing cells derived from transitional cell carcinoma, grade 1, 1-2, 2, 66 were correctly classified as abnormal while three were classified as normal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evaluation of deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (DMBT1) gene expression in bladder carcinoma cases: preliminary study

This study was undertaken to evaluate the expression of DMBT1 in bladder cancer and its correlation with clinico-pathological parameters analyzed in bladder carcinoma patients. We investigated DMBT1 in 56 paraffin embedded specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. We assessed DMBT1 gene expression at mRNA level by RT-PCR. Our results show 100% expression of DMBT1 in bladder carcinoma samples. Due to this preliminary results; gene expression was compared to tumor grade, and a significant difference was detected between grade 1 and 3 (p?=?0.028). The down-regulation of DMBT1 gene expression in carcinomas suggests the possible role in bladder cancer.     

Stereological estimates of nuclear volume in normal mucosa and carcinoma in situ of the human urinary bladder

The nuclear volume of the epithelial cells in the human urinary bladder mucosa has been estimated using point sampled intercepts in vertical sections (local vertical windows). The study included 27 specimens: ten from normal bladder mucosa, five from inflamed mucosa, seven from mucosa with flat grade II lesions and five from mucosa with flat grade III lesions. After standard fixation, embedding, sectioning and haematoxylin-eosin staining an unbiased estimate of the mean volume of nuclei sampled with a chance proportion to the volume = vV = pi/3 x (l0)3 was calculated using a frame for orientating the linear test probe in vertical sections. Here l0 is the length of the intercept through a test point hitting a nucleus measured in a random direction through the test point. The weighted mean nuclear volume of bladder mucosa with grade II and grade III lesions (537 microns 3 and 494 microns 3 respectively) was significantly larger than the weighted mean nuclear volume of normal (133 microns 3) and inflamed bladder mucosa (182 microns 3). This simple and fast estimation of nuclear volume seems to provide objective data useful in discriminating between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of the bladder mucosa.     

Tumor markers (CEA, TPA and CA 19-9) in urine of bladder cancer patients

This study was carried out to evaluate the usefulness of determining urinary levels of carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA), tissue-polypeptide antigen (TPA), and gastro-intestinal cancer antigen (Ca19-9) in addition to the usual diagnostic procedures for bladder cancer. Sixty-seven patients with transitional bladder cancer, 40 healthy controls and 20 patients with inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract were considered. All urine samples were obtained from patients with intact renal function and no urinary tract infection. TPA and Ca19-9 urinary levels in patients with G3 bladder tumors were significantly higher than in those with lower graded neoplasms. The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of a positive (PV+) or negative (PV-) test and the diagnostic accuracy were also evaluated. Ca19-9 was the best urinary marker for bladder cancer (sensitivity 71.6%, specificity 91.6%, PV+ 90.5%, PV- 74.3%, diagnostic accuracy 81%).