title: Effect of overexpression of glucose-regulated protein 78 and bcl-2 on recurrence and survival in patients with ureter tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The utility of the expression of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in the evaluation of prognosis depends on the type of tumor. Hence, we aimed to examine the impact of expression of GRP78 and Bcl-2, which are used in the existing prognostic evaluation of ureter tumors, in the evaluation of recurrence and survival rates of ureter tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 53 patients who had undergone radical nephroureterectomy for a ureter tumor from March 2002 to March 2012, age, sex, T stage, nuclear grade, bladder recurrence, and survival rate were analyzed at the time of the patient's surgery depending on the extent of immunohistochemical expression of GRP78 and Bcl-2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GRP78 was overexpressed in 25 patients (47.2%). When GRP78 was overexpressed, there was a high T stage (p=0.001) and nuclear grade (p=0.007) and a lot of bladder recurrence (40.0%, p=0.034). Bcl-2 was overexpressed in 16 patients (30.1%), and there were no significant associations with any risk factors (p>0.05, respectively). In the multivariate analysis regarding bladder recurrence, the recurrence rate was higher with higher pT stage (p=0.048) and when GRP78 (p=0.033) was overexpressed. In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, although the survival rate was significantly lower in the group in which GRP78 was overexpressed (p=0.03), there was no correlation between Bcl-2 overexpression and survival rate (p=0.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with ureter tumors who had overexpression of GRP78 had a high T stage and nuclear grade, a lot of bladder recurrence, and a low survival rate. Therefore, if GRP78 is overexpressed in ureter tumor patients, active postoperative follow-up should be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hyun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mi Sun
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ji Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Byung Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Choal Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chun Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Bcl-2; GRP78; Urothelial cell carcinoma