Expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor in bladder carcinoma.

Abstract

Angiogenesis is a prerequisite to cancer growth and metastasis and is induced by a variety of angiogenic factors, including platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PDECGF). The authors investigated the expression of PDECGF in 58 initial primary bladder carcinomas. The expression of PDECGF in bladder carcinoma and normal bladder tissue was examined by high performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay. The level of PDECGF expression was fourfold higher in bladder carcinoma compared with normal bladder tissue. The expression of PDECGF in invasive bladder carcinoma was fourfold higher than that in superficial carcinomas. In addition, the expression of PDECGF in T1 bladder carcinoma was twofold higher than that in Ta carcinomas. PDECGF expression level correlated with a higher grade of bladder carcinoma. Patients with Ta bladder carcinoma with low PDECGF expression had a longer postoperative tumor free period than those with high expression in the 3-year follow-up. The current study demonstrated that the level of PDECGF expression correlated with both stage progression and a higher grade of bladder carcinoma, and that elevated PDECGF expression predicted early recurrence in Ta bladder carcinoma. These results suggest that elevated PDECGF expression might be associated with a greater possibility of recurrence and disease progression.