[Tracking the gatekeeper gene in the stages of carcinogenesis in the bladder]

Bladder cancers display different forms from superficial to aggressive tumours with muscle invasion. Many studies on this disease have been carried out in order to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in its progression. Two loci are frequently associated with bladder tumorigenesis. The chromosome 9 lesions seem to be earlier involved in carcinogenesis, and suggest the presence of a tumour suppressor gene, and on the other hand the TP53 gene mutations (17q13.1) are later but take place in tumour progression. These alterations could be used as early diagnosis tool in bladder tumours and orientate the search for the bladder cancer gatekeeper gene(s).