The prognostic role of the STK15 T91A polymorphism and of STK15 mRNA expression in patients with urothelial cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The prognostic role of the STK15 T91A polymorphism and of STK15 mRNA expression was investigated in patients with urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC).


METHODS
The STK15 genotype with respect to the T91A polymorphism was assessed by restriction fragment length polymorphism in 135 patients. STK15 mRNA expression was measured in tumor tissues of 103 patients, using real-time quantitative PCR.


RESULTS
The T91A polymorphism lacked any prognostic information in our patient cohort. Interestingly though, STK15 mRNA expression was increased in invasive and high-grade tumors (p-values of 0.009 and 0.0001, respectively). Additionally, patients with superficial UCC (n = 82) who had a tumor recurrence in the first year after surgery displayed elevated STK15 mRNA expression levels (p = 0.009). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed an increased risk of tumor progression for patients with Ta tumors (n = 62) and high STK15 expression (log-rank p = 0.04). Furthermore, a decreased overall (log-rank p = 0.006) and UCC-specific survival (log-rank p = 0.001) were shown for patients with elevated STK15 mRNA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with UCC and elevated levels of STK15 mRNA generally showed a more adverse disease course than patients with low levels. This may help in identifying patients in need of more aggressive treatment.
Schultz
Iman J
IJ
Department of Clinical Chemistry, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Kiemeney
Lambertus A
LA
Roelofs
Rian
R
Van Aarssen
Yvonne
Y
Babjuk
Marko
M
Willems
Johannes L
JL
Malmström
Per-Uno
PU
Swinkels
Dorine W
DW
Witjes
J Alfred
JA
De Kok
Jacques B
JB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015996:Survival Rate; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; C576917:AURKA protein, human; D064096:Aurora Kinase A; D064127:Aurora Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases