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Updated: Oct 27, 2025
3-D Cell Culture System for Studying Invasion and Evaluating Therapeutics in Bladder Cancer
Published on: September 13, 2018
Low Expression of EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4 in Bladder Cancer: Novel Potential Indicators of Muscular Invasion
Tae Ho Lee1, Jin Hyung Heo2, Ju Yeon Jeong3
1Department of Urology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Korea.
Purpose:
Eph receptors are differentially expressed in numerous malignant tumors. This study intended to analyze the roles of EphB receptors (EphB2, B3, and B4) in urinary bladder cancer.
Materials And Methods:
Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemical analysis was used to investigate the expression patterns of EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4 in 154 bladder cancer specimens. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted examining the extent of stained cells and staining intensity. EphB was considered to be highly expressed when the intensity of staining was more than moderate in >25% of cells in the tissue section. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down EphB expression in bladder cancer cell lines (T24, 5637) to determine the effects of EphB on tumor cell invasion, proliferation, and migration.
Results:
EphB receptors (B2, B3, and B4) were detected in 40.9% (EphB2, 63/154), 71.4% (EphB3, 110/154), and 53.2% (EphB4, 82/154) of bladder cancer specimens. Low expression of EphB2, B3, and B4 receptors were significantly associated with higher tumor grade (EphB2, p<0.001; EphB3, p=0.032; EphB4, p<0.001) and muscular invasion (EphB2, p=0.002; EphB3, p=0.009; EphB4, p<0.001). No obvious correlation was observed with other clinicopathological variables, such as age, sex, recurrence, lymph node involvement, metastasis, and overall survival. Inactivation of EphB receptors by siRNA transfection increased cell viability, tumor cell invasion, proliferation, and migration in comparison with untransfected cancer cells.
Conclusion:
Low expression of EphB receptors (B2, B3, and B4) can be a predictive marker for muscular invasion of bladder cancer.
Insights
Low expression of EphB receptors (EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4) in bladder cancer is linked to aggressive tumor features. This finding suggests EphB receptor expression levels may predict muscular invasion in bladder cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Eph receptors are implicated in various cancers.
- Differential expression of Eph receptors is observed in malignant tumors.
- Understanding EphB receptor roles in bladder cancer is crucial for targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of EphB receptors (EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4) in urinary bladder cancer.
- To analyze the correlation between EphB receptor expression and clinicopathological features of bladder cancer.
- To determine the functional impact of EphB receptors on bladder cancer cell behavior.
Main Methods:
- Tissue microarray and immunohistochemical analysis of 154 bladder cancer specimens.
- Quantification of EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4 expression based on staining intensity and cell percentage.
- siRNA-mediated knockdown of EphB receptors in bladder cancer cell lines (T24, 5637).
- Assessment of cell viability, invasion, proliferation, and migration following EphB receptor knockdown.
Main Results:
- EphB receptors were detected in a significant proportion of bladder cancer specimens (EphB2: 40.9%, EphB3: 71.4%, EphB4: 53.2%).
- Low expression of EphB2, EphB3, and EphB4 was significantly associated with higher tumor grade and muscular invasion.
- Inactivation of EphB receptors by siRNA led to increased cell viability, invasion, proliferation, and migration.
Conclusions:
- Low expression of EphB receptors (EphB2, B3, and B4) serves as a potential predictive marker for muscular invasion in bladder cancer.
- EphB receptors play a role in regulating bladder cancer cell behavior, including invasion and proliferation.
- Further research into EphB receptor signaling pathways could reveal novel therapeutic targets for bladder cancer.
