Uroplakin II as a promising marker for molecular diagnosis of nodal metastases from bladder cancer: comparison with cytokeratin 20.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Current methods used to determine pathological examination of the lymphatics after radical cystectomy are tedious and costly. We performed a systemic study of uroplakin II (UP II) and cytokeratin 20 (CK 20) expression in pelvic lymph nodes on multiple sides in patients with bladder cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 82 pelvic lymph node and 19 bladder tumor samples were obtained from 21 patients with bladder cancer by radical cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay.

RESULTS:

Of the 19 bladder tumor tissue specimens 19 (100%) and 13 (68.4%) were positive for UP II and CK 20 mRNA expression, respectively. UP II mRNA was detected in 15 of 16 pelvic lymph node samples (93.8%) with pathologically proven metastases, whereas 9 (56.6%) were positive for CK 20 mRNA. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay for UP II was statistically more sensitive than that for CK 20 in detecting not only primary tumors, but also metastatic pelvic lymph nodes (p = 0.0179 and 0.0373, respectively). Of 66 pelvic lymph node samples without metastasis UP II was detected in 6 (10%), while CK 20 was not. In addition, UP II and CK 20 mRNA could be detected in at least 50 and 500 bladder cancer HT1197 cells, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results indicate that UP II might be a more useful marker than CK 20 for detecting micrometastases of bladder cancer in the pelvic lymph nodes, although a greater number of patients and longer followup are needed to come to a definitive conclusion.

• Authors: Xiuxian Wu, Yoshiyuki Kakehi, Yu Zeng, Rikiya Taoka, Hiroyuki Tsunemori, Mashashi Inui
• Journal: The Journal of urology (J Urol) Vol. 174 Issue 6 Pg. 2138-42, discussion 2142-3 (Dec 2005) ISSN: 0022-5347 [Print] United States
• PMID: 16280744 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• KRT20 protein, human
• Keratin-20
• Membrane Proteins
• RNA, Messenger
• UPK2 protein, human
• Uroplakin II
• Keratins

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (metabolism)
• Female
• Humans
• Japan
• Keratin-20
• Keratins (metabolism)
• Lymph Nodes (metabolism, pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis (diagnosis)
• Male
• Membrane Proteins (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Predictive Value of Tests
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Urinary Bladder Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)
• Uroplakin II