The Expression And Clinical Significance Of EphA2 In Transitional Cell Carcinoma Of Human Bladder

Objective: To investigate whether the expression of EphA2 in the normal mucous membrane of urinary bladder, superficial and invasive transitional cell carcinoma and in different pathological grades are significantly different, to find out the relationship between the expression of EphA2 and VE—cadherin, EphA2 and Ki67. Furthermore, to make it plain whether patients who recurred tend to show high EphA2 expression and whether EphA2 is correlated with patients' survival time after the operation.Methods: 10 patients with normal mucous membranes of urinary bladder which were more than 2.5cm far away from the tumors and were pathologically confirmed after cystectomy. and 48 patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma were selected. EphA2, VE—cadherin and Ki67 were analyzed by way of immunohistochemical technique. 4 resections were cut from every paraffin specimen. Among them 3 resections were used to analyze EphA2, VE—cadherin and Ki67, and another was used to comfirm the clinical stages and pathological grades of WHO through HE staining. And a follow-up of 6-50 months was done to evaluate the prognosis.The statistics was done to evaluate the relationship between EphA2 expression and patients' recurrence. Survival time after operation was also analyzed.Results:1. The positive ones in pathological G_1-3 are 14.3ï¼…,36.8ï¼…,66.7ï¼…. The expressions of EphA2 between G₁, G₁ and G₂ are statistically significant. However our results display no sample positive normal mucous membrane.2. The positive expression rate of EphA2 in superficial and invasive urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma is 22.2ï¼…,61.9ï¼….3. In the same urinary bladder tissues, the expressions of EphA2 and VE—cadherin are positively correlated.4. In the same urinary bladder tissues, the expressions of EphA2 and Ki67 are positively correlated.5. Patients who recurred tend to show high EphA2 expression. EphA2 could be a marker to evaluate whether patients are prone to recur.6. Patients who show positive EphA2 expression survive longer after the operation than those with negative expression.Conclusions: The overexpression of EphA2 can accelerate cellular proliferation, angiopoiesis. It maybe work by way of interaction between EphA2 and VE-cadherin. Patients who recurred tend to show high EphA2 expression. EphA2 can be a marker that is used to evaluate patients'recurrence. Furthermore EphA2 can be used to evaluate patients' survival time after the operation. It be an attractive therapy target for bladder cancer.