Ioannis Leotsakos1, Panagiotis Dimopoulos2, Eliona Gkioka2, Pavlos Msaouel3, Adrianos Nezos2, Konstantinos G Stravodimos4, Michael Koutsilieris2, Constantinos A Constantinides4. 1. Department of Urology, Medical School, National & Kapodistian University of Athens, Athens, Greece j_leot@yahoo.gr. 2. Department of Physiology, Medical School, National & Kapodistian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 3. Department of Physiology, Medical School, National & Kapodistian University of Athens, Athens, Greece Department of Internal Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, U.S.A. 4. Department of Urology, Medical School, National & Kapodistian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to develop multiplex-PCR assays for the detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood and urine samples of patients with bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood and urine samples were collected from 208 patients (169 patients and 39 healthy volunteers). After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the samples were analyzed for the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), CK20 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA in blood and for SURVIVIN, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA in urine, using multiplex-PCR assays. RESULTS: EGFR and CK20 alone or in combination as well as all urine markers correlated well with histological grade. hTERT correlated well with primary tumor size T≥3. Patients with positive urine markers had significantly worse progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: Multiplex-PCR assays can be a useful tool for staging and monitoring purposes in patients with bladder cancer. Copyright
AIM: The aim of this study was to develop multiplex-PCR assays for the detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood and urine samples of patients with bladder cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood and urine samples were collected from 208 patients (169 patients and 39 healthy volunteers). After RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the samples were analyzed for the expression of cytokeratin 19 (CK19), CK20 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA in blood and for SURVIVIN, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA in urine, using multiplex-PCR assays. RESULTS:EGFR and CK20 alone or in combination as well as all urine markers correlated well with histological grade. hTERT correlated well with primary tumor size T≥3. Patients with positive urine markers had significantly worse progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: Multiplex-PCR assays can be a useful tool for staging and monitoring purposes in patients with bladder cancer. Copyright