Expression of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit genes in superficial and invasive bladder carcinomas
Lazar, V.; Diez, S.G.; Laurent, A.; Giovangrandi, Y.; Radvanyi, F.; Chopin, D.; Bidart, J.M.; Bellet, D.; Vidaud, M.
Cancer Research 55(17): 3735-3738
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-5472 PMID: 7543817 Document Number: 442836
Increased serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit (hCG-beta) were described previously in patients with bladder cancer. To obtain insight into such production of hCG-beta, the expression of hCG-beta-7, 8, 5, and 3 genes in bladder carcinomas and normal urothelia was investigated by reverse transcription PCR. Surprisingly, hCG-beta mRNAs were detected in both normal urothelial and carcinomatous cells. However, tumor progression was characterized by different patterns of transcription of the hCG-beta genes; the beta-7 gene was the only gene transcribed in normal urothelia and T-a tumors included in this study, whereas in addition to beta 7, genes beta 5, 8, and 3 were transcribed in T-1 to T-4 tumors. Moreover, transcription levels of the latter three genes increased with the stage of the disease. These observations show that dramatic modifications in the expression of hCG-beta genes accompany progression of bladder carcinomas.