Telomere length on bladder washing samples from patients with bladder cancer correlates with tumor characteristics flow cytometry method for quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (flow-FISH technique).
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the length of telomeres in patients with bladder cancer using a quantitative flow cytometry (flow-FISH) technique.


METHODS
Bladder washing samples from 51 patients with bladder cancer were obtained immediately before transurethral resection. The average length of telomere repeats was measured by flow-FISH, as previously reported. Results were expressed in molecular equivalents of soluble fluorochrome (MESF) units.


RESULTS
Bladder washing specimens provided adequate cell numbers for flow-FISH in 49 cases. The TEL means were 1014.71, 2343.36, 5567 and 18267.57 for Ta, T1, T2 and T3/4 tumors, respectively. Regarding grade it was obtained a mean MESF value of 1379.46, 3391.29 and 15925.11 for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. ANOVA demonstrated statistically significant differences in stage (p: 0.014) and tumor grades (p: 0.012). In relation to ploidy, we found a mean MESF value of 2701.37 and 16085.44 MESF units for diploid and aneuploid cells, respectively. Significant difference (p: 0.003) was observed between both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
To date, this is the first report wherein telomere length was measured using flow-FISH method in exfoliated cells in urine from patients with bladder cancer. Further investigations are required to demonstrate whether flow-FISH technique might be considered as a tumor marker of bladder cancer.
Fernandez-Gomez
Jesus
J
Department of Urology, Hospital Central of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. jmfernandezgomez@tiscali.es
Escaf Barmadah
Safwan
S
Gosalbez
David
D
Rodriguez-Faba
Oscar
O
Jalon
Antonio
A
Gonzalez
Roberto
R
Garcia Miralles
Teresa
T
Calas
Ana
A
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016615:Telomere / Q000473:pathology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*