The Expression Of Livin Gene In Transitional Cell Carcinoma Of The Bladder And Its Significance

Objective: To examine and analyze the expression of Livin, a novel inhibitor of apoptosis protein family member, in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder(TCCB), and to explore the relationship between the expression of Livin and the stage,grade and relapse of TCCB.Methods: We used two methods to detect the expression of Livin protein, 45 TCCB tissues and 12 normal bladder tissues were detected by Western-blot, another 40 TCCB tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results: Western-blot: In normal bladder tissues both Livin-αand Livin-βwere not detected. Among tumor tissues 27/45(60.0%) showed expression of Livin-α, while none had detectable Livin-βexpression. The positive rate in grade of G1, G2, G3 was 53.8%(7/13), 57.1%(12/21), 72.7%(8/11) respectively. No significant difference was found between different grades (P>0.05). The positive expression rate of Livin was 54.8% (17/31) in the T1 group, and 71.4%(10/14) in the T2-T4 gorup. There was no significant difference between the two group. The Livin positive expression rate in primary group was higher than that of recurrent group (P<0.05), the former was 48.3%(14/29), the latter was 81.3%(13/16). Immunohistochemstry: The positive rate in grade of G1, G2,G3 was 41.6%(5/12), 56.2%(9/16), 75.0%(9/12) respectively. No significant difference was found between different grades (P>0.05) . The positive expression rate of Livin was 51.7% (15/29) in the T1 group, and 72.7%(8/11) in the T2-T4 gorup. There was no significant difference between the two group. The Livin positive expression rate in primary group was higher than that of recurrent group (P<0.05) , the former was 44.4(12/27), the latter was 84.6%(11/13).Conclusion: There is no expression of Livin in normal bladder tissues, only Livin-αcan be detected in TCCB tissues. The expression of Livin gene is not correlated with the stage and grade of TCCB, but correlated with the relapse of TCCB. Livin can be used as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and the relapse of TCCB.