Expression Of Embryonic Stem Cells Key Transcription Factor Nanog In Bladder Cancer And Its Relationship With Cancer Stem Cells

Objective: To study the expression of nanog in human bladder cancer tissue,and demonstrate its significance in bladder cancer formation and relationship with bladder cancer stem cells.Methods: The expression of nanog was examined in the pathological specimens from 32 cases of bladder cancers , 32 apparently nontumor tissues taken from the margin of tumors by using semiquantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.Results: The expression rate of nanog in bladder cancers was 84.38%(27/32) but at much lower level (P<0.001) in some nonneoplastic samples 15.6%(5/32), According to immunohistochemical (IHC) results, nanog is primarily localized in the nuclei of tumor cells, with no or low immunoreactivity in nontumor cells.the positive rate and intensity of the nanog expression had no obvious relationship with the grade,staging,recurrence or metastasis of bladder cancer(P>0.05). Conclusion: The expression of nanog showed there might exist bladder cancer stern cells.This has significant aplications to uncover the existence of CSC and to isolate and identificate bladder cancer stem cells.The rate and level of nanog expression in bladder cancer showed there might exist significant correlation between embryonic gene and occurrence and development of tumor.