title: Novel non invasive diagnostic strategies in bladder cancer.
abstract: Bladder cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies worldwide, derived from the urothelium of the urinary bladder and defined by long asymptomatic and atypical clinical picture. Its complex etiopathogenesis is dependent on numerous risk factors that can be divided into three distinct categories: genetic and molecular abnormalities, chemical or environmental exposure and previous genitourinary disorders and family history of different malignancies. Various genetic polymorphisms and microRNA might represent useful diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers. Genetic and molecular abnormalities - risk factors are represented by miRNA or genetic polymorphisms proved to be part of bladder carcinogenesis such as: genetic mutations of oncogenes TP53, Ras, Rb1 or p21 oncoproteins, cyclin D or genetic polymorhisms of XPD,ERCC1, CYP1B1, NQO1C609T, MDM2SNP309, CHEK2, ERCC6, NRF2, NQO1Pro187Ser polymorphism and microRNA (miR-143, -145, -222, -210, -10b, 576-3p). The aim of our article is to highlight the most recent acquisitions via molecular biomarkers (miRNAs and genetic polymorphisms) involved in bladder cancer in order to provide early diagnosis, precise therapy according to the molecular profile of bladder tumors, as well as to improve clinical outcome, survival rates and life quality of oncological patients. These molecular biomarkers play a key role in bladder carcinogenesis, clinical evolution, prognosis and therapeutic response and explain the molecular mechanisms involved in bladder carcinogenesis; they can also be selected as therapeutic targets in developing novel therapeutic strategies in bladder malignancies. Moreover, the purpose in defining these molecular non invasive biomarkers is also to develop non invasive screening programs in bladder malignancies with the result of decreasing bladder cancer incidence in risk population.
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Research Center of Functional Genomics Biomedicine &Translational Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; I. Chiricuta Oncology Institute, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Anamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Truta
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology - Robotic Surgery, Clinical Municipal Hospital Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Tudor Adrian Hodor
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Popon
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Saraci
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, Clinical Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Liviu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghervan
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetics Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioan Victor
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Pop
keywords: bladder cancer; early diagnosis; genetic polymorphism; miRNA; molecular diagnostic biomarkers