Correlation of Wnt5a expression with histopathological grade/stage in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
BACKGROUND
Bladder cancer, including urothelial carcinoma (UC), is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract and the fourth most frequent cancer overall in men. Wnt5a, a member of the Wnt family of proteins, has been shown to have contradictory roles in the pathogenesis of many cancers, acting either as tumor suppressor or tumor promoter. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and role of Wnt5a in the pathogenesis of UC and suggest possible clinical applications for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.


METHODS
We characterized the expression of Wnt5a in 33 human UC samples using immunohistochemistry. The samples were obtained via transurethral resection, immediately fixed in formalin and then embedded in paraffin. The correlation between Wnt5a immunoreactivity, histological grade, and pathological stage of the tumor was analyzed. The expression of Wnt5a mRNA as well as the effect of Wnt5a on cell migration was also evaluated in two UC cell lines, T24 and J82, and a normal urothelial cell line.


RESULTS
Our immunohistochemical results revealed that Wnt5a staining intensity correlated positively with the histological grade and pathological stage of the UC. Wnt5a mRNA expression differed widely in the three urothelial cell lines, with high levels in one carcinoma cell line and low levels in the other cell line in comparison to the normal urothelial cell line. Migration increased in both UC cell lines in response to Wnt5a treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that the Wnt5a pathway may play a role in the pathogenesis of UC and suggest that Wnt5a may serve as an additional, complementary diagnostic/prognostic marker for UC.
http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1952312091979566.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701-2979, USA. malgor@ohio.edu.
Ramiro
R
Malgor
Seth
S
Crouser
Danielle
D
Greco
Colin
C
Brockett
Karen
K
Coschigano
Masato
M
Nakazawa
Scott
S
Jenkinson
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C085389:WNT5A protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D000071818:Wnt-5a Protein