The loss of expression of transforming growth factor-beta receptors correlates with the histopathologic tumor grade in bladder transitional cell carcinoma patients.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), a pleiotropic growth factor, is a potent inhibitor of cellular proliferation in cells of epithelial origin. Recently, it has been suggested that a loss of sensitivity to TGF-beta through a loss of expression of TGF-beta receptors T beta R-I and T beta R-II--is associated with tumor initiation and progression. Therefore, to investigate the relationship between TGF-beta receptors expression and carcinogenesis of bladder TCC, this study examined the expression of T beta R-I and T beta R-II in 46 bladder TCC patients using immunohistochemistry. Since histopathological grade is a widely accepted marker of prognosis, the results were compared in relation to the three grades of bladder TCC. The results demonstrated that the loss of TGF-beta receptors expression is associated with increasing histopathological grades of bladder TCC. Specifically, both T beta R-I and T beta R-II were readily detected in all 10 normal bladder mucosa specimens. Likewise, all 6 specimens of grade I TCC samples expressed high levels of both TGF-beta receptors. However, among grade II TCC samples, T beta R-I and T beta R-II were detected in 78% and 89%, respectively: among grade III TCC samples, T beta R-I and T beta R-II were detected in 45% and 41%, respectively. These results suggested that loss of sensitivity to TGF-beta may play a role in the progression of TCC from low to high grade disease.
Lee
D H
DH
Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. leedohn@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Yang
S C
SC
Hong
S J
SJ
Chung
B H
BH
Chung
H J
HJ
Tokunaga
H
H
Kim
I Y
IY
Song
Y S
YS
Lerner
S P
SP
Morton
R A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta