Elastase--does this enzyme play any role in bladder cancer invasion?

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Oncology
• Urology

Background:

• Elastase enzymes play roles in tissue remodeling.
• Altered enzyme activity is implicated in various cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify elastase and endopeptidase activity in bladder cancer.
• To investigate the correlation between enzyme activity and cancer invasiveness.

Main Methods:

• Assay of elastase activity using succinyl trialanine paranitroanilide (Suc-Ala3-NA).
• Detection of enzymatic products (paranitroanilide, alanine-NA, dialanine-NA) via high-performance liquid chromatography.
• Comparison of enzyme activity between bladder cancer tissues and normal bladder epithelium.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher elastase and endopeptidase activity observed in bladder cancer tissues from 20 patients versus 17 normal bladder epithelia.
• Elastase activity was significantly different between superficial (≤T1) and invasive (≥T2) bladder cancer groups.
• Enzyme activity levels were examined in relation to background factors of bladder cancer cases.

Conclusions:

• Elastase and endopeptidase activity are significantly increased in bladder cancer.
• Elevated elastase activity is associated with increased bladder cancer invasiveness.
• Elastase is implicated as a key factor in bladder cancer invasion.