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Fibronectin distribution in normal and malignant urothelium
H B Grossman1, M Liebert, G Wedemeyer
1Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109.
The Journal of Urology
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Fibronectin, a protein aiding BCG attachment in mice bladders, showed no tumor-specific presence on human bladder cancer cells. This suggests fibronectin may not be a specific target for bladder cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Urothelial biology
- Cancer research
- Immunology
Background:
- Fibronectin is a glycoprotein crucial for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) attachment in murine bladders.
- Understanding fibronectin's role in human bladder cancer is essential for developing targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and distribution of fibronectin on human normal urothelium and bladder cancer cells.
- To determine if fibronectin serves as a specific substrate for BCG binding in human bladder cancer.
Main Methods:
- Semi-quantitative evaluation of fibronectin using monoclonal anti-fibronectin antibodies.
- Immunoperoxidase assay for normal and malignant urothelial tissues.
- Mixed hemadsorption and immunoperoxidase assays for human tumor cell lines.
Main Results:
- Low expression of immunoreactive fibronectin was observed on unfixed normal and malignant urothelium.
- Fixation increased fibronectin expression in urothelium but decreased it in the supporting stroma.
- Fibronectin distribution lacked tumor specificity in both fixed and unfixed specimens.
Conclusions:
- Fibronectin expression on human urothelial cells and bladder cancer cells is not tumor-specific.
- The findings suggest fibronectin may not be a specific substrate for BCG binding in human bladder cancer.