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Application of PLK1 and HOXA13 Gene Expression Levels in Urine in the Diagnosis of Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
Sahar Valizadeh1, Sana Taghiyar2, Serajedin Vahidi1
1Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences & Health Services, Yazd, Iran.
Biochemical Genetics
|May 7, 2024
Summary
A new urine test using HOXA13 and PLK1 gene expression shows promise for diagnosing non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This non-invasive method offers high sensitivity and specificity for detecting bladder cancer stages Ta and T1.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Bladder cancer diagnosis and surveillance often rely on invasive procedures with variable accuracy.
- There is a need for non-invasive, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tools for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a non-invasive urine-based gene expression assay for diagnosing NMIBC (stages Ta and T1).
- To assess the diagnostic accuracy of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), homeobox A13 (HOXA13), and polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in urine samples.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative RT-PCR was used to measure the expression levels of FGFR3, HOXA13, and PLK1 in urine samples.
- The study included 62 NMIBC patients, 31 controls, and 31 patients with non-cancerous genitourinary diseases.
- Sensitivity and specificity of the gene expression assay were calculated.
Main Results:
- PLK1, HOXA13, and FGFR3 gene expressions were significantly elevated in bladder cancer patients compared to controls.
- HOXA13 demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 93% specificity for NMIBC diagnosis (p<0.0001).
- PLK1 showed 100% sensitivity and 86% specificity for NMIBC diagnosis (p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Urinary HOXA13 and PLK1 expression levels show high sensitivity and specificity, making them suitable biomarkers for NMIBC diagnosis and monitoring.
- This non-invasive urine test holds potential for improving bladder cancer management.
