Expression of KAI1 in urothelial cancer tissues and its relationship with invasion and metastasis of urothelial cancer / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the expression of KAI1 gene in the urothelial cancer tissues and its relationship with the invasion and metastasis of urothelial cancer. Methods: The expression of KAI1 mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative(RFQ-PCR) in urothelial cancer tissues and normal mucosa of urinary tract. The KAI1 protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC) method in bladder transitional cell carcinoma tissues and the paired normal mucosal tissues. Results: QRT-PCR showed that the average level of KAI1 mRNA in the urothelial cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in the normal bladder tissues (P<0.01); moreover, the increase of pathological grades and clinical stages and the development of lymphatic metastasis were associated with the decrease of KAI1 expression, with significant difference found between the different groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01). The protein expression of KAI1 in the urothelial cancer tissues was significantly lower than that in the normal bladder tissues(P<0.01). The protein expression of KAI1 was decreased with the increase of pathological grades (P<0.05 or P<0.01). We also found that higher expression of KAI1 was associated with superficial invasion (P<0.05) and the presence of lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusion: The down-regulation of KAI1 gene is associated with differentiation, infiltration, and lymphatic metastasis of urothelial cancer, which might serve as an effective indicator for malignancy, metastasis and prognosis of urothelial cancer.