title: BLCA-4 expression is related to MMP-9, VEGF, IL-1α and IL-8 in bladder cancer but not to PEDF, TNF-α or angiogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  BLCA-4 is a specific nuclear matrix protein found in bladder cancer and there is a dearth of study on functional analysis upon this factor. We aimed to discover whether BLCA-4 is related to angiogenesis in bladder cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three bladder cancer samples were included for immunohistochemical staining of BLCA-4, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-8, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) for microvessel density (MVD). Expressional levels were scored and grouped by clinicopathological parametres for statistical analysis for correlations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive correlations were identified between expression of BLCA-4 and IL-1α (p=0.038), IL-8 (p=0.001), VEGF (p=0.002), and MMP-9 (p=0.013). No correlation was found for PEDF (p=0.182), TNF-α (p=0.531) or MVD (p=0.932). Positive correlations were also obtained in cases of advanced grade or stage, larger, recurrent and multiple tumours. Positive correlation between BLCA-4 and MMP-9 was also found in papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BLCA-4 may not effect pro-angiogenic pathways in bladder cancer, it can however interact with IL-1α, IL-8, VEGF and MMP-9 to enhance tumourigenesis and tumour invasiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, 12, Central Urumqi Rd, 200040 Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D005136:Eye Proteins; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D016209:Interleukin-8; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015843:Serpins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000099174:Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor; C413062:BLCA-4 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human