IntroductionBreakdown of the extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), as we know, is one of mechanisms involved and required in tumor invasion. MMP7 is a negative prognostic factor of various malignances, while MMP8 exhibits an inhibitory effect on tumorigenesis and metastasis. We evaluated the potential association of functional polymorphisms in the promoter of the MMP7 (rs11568818) and MMP8 (rs11225395) genes and bladder cancer (BCa) risk.Materials and methodsThe study included 241 BCa cases and 199 healthy population controls that were collected at the First Department of Urology, Medical University (Łódź, Poland) and at the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (Łódź, Poland). Genomic DNA samples were isolated from venous blood and genetic polymorphisms were analyzed by real–time polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan fluorescent probes. Associations between genotype and allele status were estimated by logistic regression models adjusted for classic risk factors (e.g. age, gender and cigarette smoking).ResultsMMP7 and MMP8 genotypes were distributed similarly in BCa patients and in controls and at least one variant allele was not associated with BCa cancer risk (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.60–1.39; p = 0.662 for MMP7 and OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.63–1.46; p = 0.836 for MMP8). We observed higher prevalence of MMP7 GG genotypes among BCa patients than in controls (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 0.93–2.55; p = 0.093). Additionally, genetic polymorphisms in the MMP7 and MMP8 were not associated with the tumor grade or stage.ConclusionsOur results suggest that genetic variations in two genes encoding members of the MMP7 and MMP8 are not associated with a risk of BCa in the Caucasian population.

Although the high cost of the equipment may limit its introduction to everyday use, it is a cost-effective method of bladder cancer management for long-term follow-up.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role in and contribution of antioxidant enzymes to bladder cancer (BC) etiology and recurrence after transurethral resection (TUR). We enrolled 40 patients with BC who underwent TUR and 100 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. The analysis was performed at diagnosis and recurrence, taking into account the time of recurrence. Gene expression of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) was determined in peripheral blood leukocytes. The activity of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPX3) was examined in plasma, and GPX1 and copper-zinc containing superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in erythrocytes. SOD2 and GPX1 expression and GPX1 and SOD1 activity were significantly higher in patients at diagnosis of BC in comparison to controls. In patients who had recurrence earlier than 1 year from TUR, CAT and SOD2 expression was lower (at diagnosis p=0.024 and p=0.434, at recurrence p=0.022 and p=0.010), while the GPX1 and GPX3 activity was higher (at diagnosis p=0.242 and p=0.394, at recurrence p=0.019 and p=0.025) compared to patients with recurrence after 1 year from TUR. This study revealed that the gene expression and activity of the antioxidant enzymes are elevated in blood of patients with BC, although a low expression of CAT might contribute to the recurrence of BC, in early prognosis.

Bladder cancer (BC) is still characterized by a very high death rate in patients with this disease. One of the reasons for this is the lack of adequate markers which could help determine the biological potential of the tumor to develop into its invasive stage. It has been found that some microRNAs (miRNAs) correlate with disease progression. The purpose of this study was to identify which miRNAs can accurately predict the presence of BC and can differentiate low grade (LG) tumors from high grade (HG) tumors. The study included 55 patients with diagnosed bladder cancer and 30 persons belonging to the control group. The expression of seven selected miRNAs was estimated with the real-time PCR technique according to miR-103-5p (for the normalization of the results). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the feasibility of using selected markers as biomarkers for detecting BC and discriminating non-muscle invasive BC (NMIBC) from muscle invasive BC (MIBC). For HG tumors, the relevant classifiers are miR-205-5p and miR-20a-5p, whereas miR-205-5p and miR-182-5p are for LG (AUC = 0.964 and AUC = 0.992, respectively). NMIBC patients with LG disease are characterized by significantly higher miR-130b-3p expression values compared to patients in HG tumors.

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