title: Expression of transcription factor Twist1 in bladder urothelial carcinoma and its clinical significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transcription factor Twist1 is known to play a vital role in cancer development, progression and metastasis. However, regulation mechanisms beneath Twist1 expression, as well as the correlation between its expression and bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC), are still under investigation. Herein, we tried to investigate the expression of Twist1 in BUC specimens and non-cancerous mucosas and illustrate their relationships with clinicopathological features.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of Twist1 mRNA in 42 fresh BUC specimens and 13 paired non-cancerous mucosas was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RFQ-RTPCR). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of Twist1 protein in 40 paraffin embedded BUC specimens and 14 paired non-cancerous mucosas, and their relationships with clinicopathological features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of Twist1 mRNA in 13 paired BUC specimens were significantly lower than the non-cancerous mucosas. The positive expression rate of Twist1 protein in BUC specimens (90.0%; 36/40) was significantly higher than the non-cancerous mucosas (7.14%; 1/14). Twist1 protein was mainly distributed in the nucleus, and expressed obviously in the mesenchymal cells of several specimens (13.9%;5/36). However, expressions of Twist1 protein were not associated with TNM stage and grade. It was also shown that the expression tendency of Twist1 protein was distinct from Twist1 mRNA, and both were not correlated with age, gender, and smoking history.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a probable potential biomarker for BUC, Twist1 gene may play a role as an oncogene during the tumorigenesis and development of BUC. Its abnormal protein expression may be associated with disordered regulations after transcription.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jinchun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Kaiyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiaxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1