ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the expression of calcium-binding protein 39 (CAB39) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in bladder cancer tissues and their relationship with the prognosis of patients.Methods:A case-control study was conducted to select the focal tissues (case group) and post-operative paracancourous tissues (control group) from 94 bladder cancer patients who underwent surgery from Zibo Central Hospital from June 2014 to April 2018. Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of VEGF and CAB39 proteins in the two specimens. The positive expression rates of VEGF and CAB39 protein in bladder cancer tissues with different pathological characteristics were analyzed, and the relationship between VEGF and CAB39 protein expression and prognosis of patients with bladder cancer was analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression model.Results:The relative expression levels of VEGF and CAB39 protein in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group, with significant statistical difference (all P<0.05). The immunohistochemical staining scores of VEGF and CAB39 protein in the case group were higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.05). The positive expression rate of CAB39 protein was significantly higher in bladder cancer tissure of patients with low-grade, clinical stage T3-T4 and lymph node metastasis, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.05). The positive expression rate of VEGF protein was significantly higher in bladder cancer tissue of patients with clinical stage T3-T4 and lymph node metastasis, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.05). Cox proportional hazard regression model showed that low grade, clinical stage T3-T4, lymph node metastasis, positive expression of VEGF and CAB39 protein were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in bladder cancer patients in 3 years (all P<0.05). Conclusions:VEGF and CAB39 proteins are highly expressed in bladder cancer tissue, and have a certain relationship with the poor prognosis of patients.