Detection of circulating MUC7-positive cells by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in bladder cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
To determine whether MUC7 gene expression can be used as a bladder cancer marker in peripheral blood.


METHODS
Nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on four types of bladder cancer cell lines (RT4, T24, EJ-1 and TCC) and the peripheral blood of 38 (31 superficial disease and seven invasive disease) bladder cancer patients and 18 subjects with urinary tract infections or other non-malignant conditions to determine the expression of MUC7.


RESULTS
No MUC7 gene expression was detected in control subjects. MUC7-positive cells were detected in all bladder cancer cell lines and in 18 of 38 (47.4%) peripheral blood samples of bladder cancer patients. Based on the tumor stage, MUC7 was detected in 11 of 29 (37.9%) patients with superficial disease (Ta and T1) and in seven of nine (77.7%) invasive disease patients (>/=T2). There was a significant difference between superficial and invasive disease (P = 0.042). Based on tumor grade, we could not detect MUC7 in five patients with grade 1, in five of 15 patients (33.3%) with grade 2 and in 13 of 18 patients (72.2%) with grade 3. There was a significant difference between grades 1 and 3 (P = 0.007) and grades 2 and 3 (P = 0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that MUC7 is a highly specific marker for bladder cancer and may be a useful method for the molecular staging and management of bladder cancer.
Kinjo
Manami
M
Department of Urology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. kinjo@kyorin-u.a.jp
Okegawa
Takatsugu
T
Horie
Shigeo
S
Nutahara
Kikuo
K
Higashihara
Eiji
E
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000737:chemistry*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C083238:MUC7 protein, human; D009077:Mucins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides