The Clinical Significance Of Tim-3 Expression In Bladder Urothelial Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the clinicalcopathologic correlations and survival association between the expression of Tim-3 and bladder urothelial carcinoma(BUC).Methodology: We detected Tim-3 expression in 100 human BUC tissues and 20 normal bladder mucous tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry(IHC). And the correlations between Tim-3 expression levels and prognosis were also evaluated according to clinical features.Results: High Tim-3 positive expression was detected from 95 out of 100(95 %)tissue specimens of patients with BUC. Patients who suffer high grade and advanced stage presented high Tim-3 expression. The expression of Tim-3 has significantly associated with tumor grade(P = 0.001) and stage(P = 0.004). Univarite(P = 0.003)and multivariate(P = 0.039, RR = 4.775) analysis have been shown that Tim-3expression was an important prognostic factor associated with shorter overall survival.Conclusion: High Tim-3 expression was verified in BUC tissues, which play an vital role in promote the progression of BUC. Our study suggested that the over-expression of Tim-3 in bladder tumor tissues may be an independent prognostic factor in BUC patients.