Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Urinary bladder neoplasia'

Diseases of the urinary system are regularly encountered in daily veterinary practice. The development of increasingly efficient diagnostic tools is crucial to meet the high-quality requirements of contemporary professional standards. This project had many purposes, aiming to describe pioneering methods, protocols and diagnosis related to imaging of ureters and urinary bladder, chosen as they represent daily diagnostic challenges in daily routine practice. This project consisted of three papers: the first paper is a prospective pilot project concerning quantitative CEUS exam applied to distinguish neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of the urinary bladder in small animals; the second paper is a multicentric retrospective observational project describing the CT appearance of a novel CVC congenital malformation; the third paper is a retrospective study conducted on canine healthy patients, aimed at assessing the visibility of the ureters on high field MR on T1 and T2 sequences avoiding the use of paramagnetic contrast agents. The results of this project allowed to obtain objectifiable parameters for the distinction of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions of urinary bladder using quantitative CEUS; we also described the CT appearance of the transcaval ureter, a malfomaration of the CVC never described in veterinary medicine; finally, we described the feasibility of evaluation of normal ureters through high-field MR on T2-weighted sequences, in healthy canine patients. In conclusion, this project allowed to describe new diseases that could affect urinary tract function and contributes to the development of new methods and protocols with the potential to reduce the invasiveness of certain diagnostic procedures related to the urinary tract.

Introdução: O câncer de bexiga é a quinta neoplasia mais comumente diagnosticada no Ocidente, acometendo cerca de 336.000 novos indivíduos anualmente e levando a morte 132.000 pacientes em todo o mundo. No Brasil, a incidência de tumores vesicais para o ano de 1999 foi de 7.550, representando 2,8% do total de casos novos de câncer diagnosticados em ambos os sexos. Um dos grandes desafios terapêuticos para o câncer de bexiga é a identificação dos pacientes que inicialmente apresentam carcinoma papilífero de baixo grau, mas que irão recorrer ou progredir. Métodos: Neste estudo retrospectivo 64 pacientes foram avaliados por imunohistoquímica para a análise da expressão de E-caderina e β-catenina. As marcações foram classificadas como focal ou difusa e categorizadas em negativo, fraco, moderado e forte. Os resultados foram correlacionados com grau histológico, estadiamento clínico, sobrevida livre de progressão e sobrevida livre de recidiva. O polimorfismo de ninjurin 1 foi genotipado por PCR-RFLP em 66 pacientes e 108 controles. Os genótipos foram correlacionados com grau histológico, estadiamento clínico, sobrevida livre de progressão e sobrevida livre de recidiva. Resultados: Em nossa casuística padrões mais intensos de imuno-expressão de Ecaderina foram estatisticamente associados a estádios clínicos mais avançados para carcinomas uroteliais da bexiga (p=0,005), além de menores tempos de recidiva (0,025) e progressão (0,049). O padrão de marcação difuso foi associado de forma estatisticamente significativa a estádios clínicos mais avançados (p=0,010). Não foram encontradas associações significativas entre os padrões de imuno-expressão de β-catenina com grau histológico, estádio tumoral, recidiva ou progressão dos carcinomas uroteliais da bexiga. O alelo C do polimorfismo D110A de ninjurin 1 foi associado de forma estatisticamente significativa, em nossa amostra, com o aumento do grau histológico (p=0,041). Pacientes portadores do alelo C de ninjurin 1 apresentaram menores períodos para progressão tumoral quando comparados aos homozigotos AA (p=0,010). Conclusão: Nossos resultados sugerem que a expressão de E-caderina está envolvida nos processos tumorigênese do carcinoma urotelial de bexiga e que o polimorfismo D110A de ninjurin 1 pode participar da modulação desta patologia.
Introduction: Bladder cancer is the fifth neoplasm in Western countries, whose occurrence is 336,000 new cases annually, and also being responsible for 132,000 deaths in the worldwide. The incidence of bladder tumors in Brazil were 7,550 cases in 1999, representing 2,8% of overall diagnosed cancer in both gender. One of the main therapeutic challenges is identify which patients that present low grades neoplasms will present recurrence and/or progression. Methods: Sixty four patients were evaluated for E-cadherin e β-catenin immunoexpression in a retrospective study. The staining patterns were classified as focal or difuse and categorized as negative, weak, moderate or strong. Results were correlated with tumor grade, clinical stage, progression and recurrence free survival. Ninjurin 1 polymorphism was evaluated by PCR-RFLP in 66 patients and 108 controls. Genotypes were correlated with tumor grade, clinical stage, progression and recurrence free survival. Results: E-cadherin moderate and strong staining patterns were significantly associated with high clinical stages of urothelial carcinoma of bladder (p=0.005), and short recurrence (p=0.025) and progression (p=0.049). Difuse staining pattern were significantly associated with high clinical stages (p=0.010). Neither histological grade, clinical stages, recurrence and progression free survival were associated with β-catenin staining patters in our samples of urothelial carcinoma of bladder. The allele C of D110A ninjurin 1 polymorphism was significantly associated with high grade tumors (p=0.041). C carries patients compared with AA homozygous presented short disease progression (p=0.010). Conclusion: Our results suggest that E-cadherin expression is involved in urothelial carcinoma of bladder tumorigenesis and that D110A ninjurin 1 polymorphism may contribute to modulate this pathology.

Introdução: Apesar de recentes inovações e aprimoramentos no tratamento do Câncer de Bexiga (CaB) não músculo invasivo, o índice de progressão e recorrência continuam altos possivelmente devido a tumores residuais ou não evidenciados na ressecção transuretral de bexiga (RTU), o que profundamente afeta o prognóstico desta doença e evidencia a importância da qualidade desse procedimento padrão não só para o diagnóstico, mas também para o estadiamento e tratamento do tumor de bexiga. A presença de muscular própria no espécime é essencial para conduzir o tratamento, embora esta esteja presente apenas em cerca de 36-51% dos casos. Na sua ausência muitas vezes torna-se necessário um novo procedimento, vindo com isso a morbidade e os gastos de uma nova cirurgia. Dessa forma várias técnicas têm sido propostas com o intuito de melhorar a acurácia da RTUb, o que pode reduzir as ressecções incompletas e o subestadiamento. Objetivo: Avaliar a importância da biópsia de congelação do leito da lesão ressecada no que diz respeito ao estadiamento inicial e controle local da doença. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo prospectivo e randomizado dos pacientes com tumor de bexiga sem tratamento prévio que foram submetidos à RTUb no período de 09/2011 a 08/2013 em uma única instituição (Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo - ICESP). Esses pacientes foram submetidos à RTUb convencional, conforme o Guideline Europeu (EAU, 2011). No grupo 1, foi realizada biópsia de congelação do leito da lesão após a RTU, onde o cirurgião julgou esta ser possivelmente invasiva, aguardando análise do patologista quanto a presença de muscular própria, se caso esta não estivesse representada, era feita nova biópsia até sua representatividade. O grupo 2 são os controles não sendo submetidos à biópsia de congelação. Foram incluídos apenas os pacientes que tiveram critério e foram submetidos à re-RTUb. Um total de 150 pacientes foram randomizados, tornando-se elegíveis 131, sendo 64 no grupo 1 e 67 no grupo 2. Resultados: Comparando-se os grupos, não houve diferença em relação ao sexo, idade, quantidade e tamanho do tumor. No estudo anatomo-patológico da RTUb houve representatividade muscular em 100% x 58,5%, entre os grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente, com p < 0,001. Na Re-RTUb o índice de tumor residual foi 10,4% x 35,2%, entre os grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente, com p = 0,005. No grupo 1, 15 pacientes foram diagnosticados como pT2 com 100% do diagnóstico na primeira RTUb; no grupo 2, 6 pacientes tiveram diagnóstico de pT2 com apenas 33,3% na primeira RTUb, p=0,003. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi de 50 min no grupo 1 e 42min no grupo 2 (p= 0,037). Não houve diferença em relação à complicações (transfusão e perfuração vesical). Conclusão: A biópsia de congelação melhorou o correto estadiamento e controle local do câncer de bexiga, além de aumentar a acurácia do diagnóstico de doença pT2, podendo permitir o planejamento precoce do tratamento definitivo sem aumentar as complicações
Background and Purpose: Despite recent improvements of bladder cancer treatment, recurrence and progression rates are still high, possibly related to residual or overlooked tumors at the first transurethral resection (TUR), which strongly emphasizes the importance of the quality of this method. In order to improve the effectiveness of the procedure, we sought to evaluate the impact of frozen section during TUR, aiming on increasing muscular layer sample in the specimen, which may minimize incomplete resections and understaging. Patients and Methods: We prospectively included 150 consecutive patients assigned to TUR which were randomized to undergo either frozen section biopsy of the tumor bed during the TUR procedure until muscle was obtained or standard resection procedure (no frozen section). Nineteen patients were excluded after randomization, leaving 131 for analysis. All patients underwent a second TUR performed 4-6 weeks later. Frozen sections and final pathology reports were centralized and all performed by pathologists, the doubtful cases were reviewed by one uropathologist. Exclusion criteria: incomplete resection at first TUR, no criteria for second TUR according to EUA Guideline Update 2011 and previous bladder cancer treatment. (Group w/ biopsy, n = 64; Group control, n=67). Results: Both groups were comparable regarding age, gender, size and number of lesions. The majority of patients had high grade tumor in both groups. In the group where frozen section was obtained, muscle-invasive disease was higher (23% x 3%, p < 0,001). All patients in this group had muscle layer represented in the final pathology at the first TUR, while only 60% of patients in the control group (p < 0.001), including 40,5% of patients with pTa, 81,5% with pT1 e 100% with pT2 and Cis. Ninety percent of patients in the biopsy group had no residual tumor compared to 65% of the control group at second TUR (p=0,002). While all 15 patients in the frozen section group with T2 disease were diagnosed at first TUR, only 2 of 6 patients (33%) in the control group were diagnosed initially. The surgery duration was longer in the study group with mean of 50 min x 42 min (p=0,037) and there were no significant differences regarding complications (perforation and transfusion rates). Conclusion: Our results support the prove of principal that standard TUR with frozen section biopsy of bladder tumor bed increase the disease control and improve the diagnosis of T2 tumors, which may lead to reduced the number of patients in need a second TUR and avoid pT2 disease diagnosis delay, with no more complications

Introdução: Um dos principais obstáculos para compreensão dos eventos biológicos envolvidos no câncer é a falta de modelos adequados para o estudo in vitro em especial em relação ao câncer de próstata (CaP) e ao câncer de bexiga (CaB). Há um número limitado de linhagens celulares de CaP e de CaB sendo a maioria proveniente de tumores invasivos e metastáticos. Sabe-se ainda, que existem diferenças étnicas entre as populações quanto ao comportamento de neoplasias. Desta forma, a pesquisa baseada em linhagens de uma população homogênea seria fonte de resultados limitados, não contemplando a diversidade que sabidamente ocorre entre os diferentes grupos. Além desse aspecto, as linhagens celulares comerciais são na sua maioria adquiridas na Coleção Americana de Culturas de Tecido (ATCC, do inglês American Tissue Cell Culture) que apesar de serem bem padronizadas, requerem processos de importação com aumento do custo e demandas burocráticas que dificultam a pesquisa. Portanto, consideramos vital para a compreensão dos fenômenos relacionados à carcinogênese, assim como estudos de resistência a drogas, quimioprevenção e novas estratégias terapêuticas, o desenvolvimento de linhagens tumorais derivadas de tumores primários que acometem a nossa população, peculiarmente miscigenada. No presente trabalho, fragmentos de carcinoma urotelial da bexiga e de adenocarcinoma da próstata foram obtidos durante cirurgia para remoção de tumores primários de pacientes tratados e acompanhados na Divisão de Urologia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) e no Hospital Sírio Libanês. As linhagens estabelecidas a partir destes fragmentos foram caracterizadas através da análise da cinética de crescimento, análises imunocitoquímicas e anormalidades cromossômicas incluindo cariótipo e hibridização in situ por fluorescência (FISH). Além disso, as linhagens obtidas foram submetidas a estudos de quimiossensibilidade com o uso dos compostos curcumin e Prima-1. Avaliamos ainda, a tumorigenicidade de nossas linhagens em camundongos atímicos. Os resultados deste trabalho demonstram o desenvolvimento de três linhagens de CaB e três linhagens de CaP sendo as mesmas não tumorigênicas em camundongos atímicos. Além disso, demonstramos que o curcumin na concentração de 50 M induziu morte celular em todas as linhagens estudadas, sendo seu efeito mais evidente nas linhagens de CaP. Por fim, Prima-1 reduziu a viabilidade celular independente do status de p53 nas linhagens de CaB
Introduction: One of the main obstacles for understanding biological events involved in cancer is the lack of appropriated models for in vitro studies especially for prostate cancer (PC) and bladder cancer (BC). There are a limited number of PC and BC cell lines being the majority originated from metastatic and invasive tumors. Also it is well known that there are ethnic differences between populations concerning the behavior of tumors. In such a way, the research based on cell lines derived from a homogenous population should be source of limited results, not contemplating the diversity known to occur among different groups. In addition the commercial cell lines are generally acquired at American Tissue Cell Culture (ATCC) that although wellestablished requires importation processes with cost increase and bureaucratic demands that difficult the research. Therefore we consider vital to the comprehension of the carcinogenesis phenomena, as well as drug resistance studies, chemoprevention and new therapeutic strategies, the development of tumor lineages derived from primary tumors that assail our miscigenated population. At the present work, fragments of bladder urothelial carcinoma and prostate adenocarcinoma were obtained by surgical resection of primary tumors from patients treated and followed in the Division of Urology of the Clinical Hospital of the São Paulo University (FMUSP) and Syrian Lebanese Hospital. The cell lines established from these fragments were characterized through growth kinetic, immunocytochemistry and chromosome abnormalities including karyotyping and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Moreover, the cell lines were submitted to chemosensitivity studies using curcumin and Prima-1 and analyzed regarding their tumorigenicity in athymic mice. The results of this work show the development of three BC and three PC cell lines that were not tumorigenic in athymic mice. Curcumin at 50 M concentration induced cell death in all studied lineages, being more effective in PC cell lines. Finally, PRIMA-1 reduced the cellular viability independent of the p53 status in BC cell lines

Introdução: Ocupação foi identificada como o segundo fator de risco mais importante para o câncer de bexiga depois de fumar sendo responsável por até 20% de todos os cânceres de bexiga em países industrializados. Apesar dos esforços consideráveis para investigar ocupações em relação ao risco de câncer de bexiga, muitas não foram encontrados de forma consistente. Material e Métodos: Foram incluídos 200 pacientes com diagnóstico de câncer de bexiga entre os anos de 2009 e 2013. Foi aplicado um questionário para obter informações sobre a profissão, tempo de exposição e hábitos diários, sintomas, e também dados de doenças incluindo estágio, grau e número e tamanho de lesões. Os pacientes do Grupo 1 foram aqueles sem emprego previamente associados com o risco de câncer de bexiga. Grupo 2 representado pacientes em risco devido a profissões. Resultados: Os pacientes do Grupo 2 apresentaram uma proporção significativamente maior de pT2 CaB (P = 0,037), enquanto que os pacientes do grupo 1 apresentaram significativamente mais pTa (p = 0,002) da doença. Analisando preditores de pT2, a presença de ocupação aumento de alto risco por 2,80 vezes a chance de desenvolver uma doença invasiva. Ao analisar o grau do tumor descobriram que um tempo de exposição de 10 anos ou mais aumenta o risco de tumores de alto grau em 4,28 vezes (p = 0,001). Conclusão: Pacientes com história de exposição a agentes cancerígenos devido à sua atividade profissional podem estar em maior risco de desenvolvimento de tumores invasivos e aqueles que estão expostos a estes agentes para mais de 10 anos podem desenvolver doença de alto grau com mais freqüência. População em risco pode, portanto, beneficiar de rastreamento para o câncer de bexiga
Occupation was identified as the second most important risk factor for bladder cancer after smoking accounting for up to 20% of all bladder cancers in industrialized countries. Despite considerable efforts to investigate occupation against the risk of bladder cancer, many have not been found consistently. We included 200 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer between 2009 and 2013. A questionnaire was applied to obtain information about the profession, exposure time and daily habits, symptoms, and also diseases of data including stage, grade and number and lesion size. Patients in Group 1 were those without jobs previously associated with the risk of bladder cancer. Group 2 represented patients at risk because of professions. Group 2 patients had a significantly higher proportion of pT2 CaB (P = 0.037), whereas patients in group 1 had significantly more pTa (p = 0.002) of the disease. Analyzing predictors of pT2, the presence of high-risk occupation increases by 2.80 times the chance of developing invasive disease. In considering the degree of tumor found that a time of 10 or more years of exposure increases the risk of high-grade tumors in 4.28 times (p = 0.001). Patients with a history of exposure to carcinogens because of their duties may be at greater risk of developing invasive tumors and those who are exposed to these agents for more than 10 years can develop high-grade disease more often. Population at risk can therefore benefit from screening for bladder cancer

Purpose: Leiomyosarcoma of the urinary bladder is exceedingly rare. Most clinicians come across only a few cases during their career, and information regarding treatment and outcome is scattered in the scientific literature. Interested clinicians and patients have to undertake troublesome search for treatment and outcome information. Material and methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature using the PubMed and Web of Science databases and included all identified cases published in English language between 1970 and June 2018 into a meta-analysis. Prior to the literature search, key questions were formulated and with the data obtained, answers to these questions should be derived. Results: We analyzed clinical data of 210 cases of urinary bladder leiomyosarcoma revealed by this review and seen in our institution. The mean age of patients was 52 years. The majority (75%) of the tumors was classified as high-grade sarcomas. We found no report of a prior radiation therapy to the pelvic organs, but some authors suggested an association between cyclophosphamide treatment and the development of bladder leiomyosarcoma, especially in patients with retinoblastoma. For the whole sample, we determined 5- and 10-year cancer-specific cumulative mortality rates of 38 and 50%. Patients with high-grade sarcomas had a trend toward a higher mortality compared with lowgrade tumors (p = 0.0280). The most promising treatment option seems to be surgery (radical or partial cystectomy) with negative resection margins, possibly supplemented by chemotherapy or radiation. Conclusion: About half of patients with bladder leiomyosarcoma survived on the long run. Low-grade tumors may have a better outcome with, nevertheless, countable long-term mortality. For better assessment of that rare bladder tumor, its best treatment options, and the influence of neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies on the outcome of patients, a larger series with longterm survival data is required.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a prolonged delay in diagnosis of bladder cancer will result in worse outcomes for those patients, compared to those patients with a shorter diagnostic time interval. Data was collected on 247 patients newly diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder from January 1996 to December 2006 (10 years). The medical records of these patients were reviewed for demographics, pathological stage, date of consultation to the genitourinary (GU) service, and date of diagnosis by transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). The specialty delay was calculated as the time between the date of consultation to the GU service to the establishment of a diagnosis by TURBT. Univariate analyses were performed to test the association of specialty delay with clinical features and all-cause mortality. The median specialty delay in this study was 100 days. There was a trend towards a longer specialty delay for muscle-invasive disease (T2-T4) in comparison to superficial disease (Ta and T1). There was a significant correlation between all-cause mortality and increasing clinical stage (p=0.01). There was a paradoxical finding that patients with a specialty delay greater than 100 days had a significant reduction in all-cause death in comparison to patients with a specialty delay of 100 days or less (relative risk=0.59; 95% CI 0.36-0.90; p=0.01). In conclusion, this study did not confirm the hypothesis that a prolonged specialty delay in patients diagnosed with bladder cancer would result in a worse prognosis. In fact, there was a paradoxical finding that patients with a specialty delay greater than the median delay of 100 days had a better prognosis.

Orientadores: Ubirajara Ferreira, Wagner José Fávaro
Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
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Resumo: Em diferentes tipos de cânceres uma população muito pequena de células tem sido reconhecida como células-tronco, por apresentarem capacidade de auto-renovação e diferenciação. Para o seu mapeamento, nos tumores uroteliais, diversos marcadores de superfície celular são utilizados para caracterizar tanto células-tronco normais (CTU) quanto cancerosas (CTC), destacando-se entre eles os antígenos de superfície CD44, CD117 e CD133 e o transportador de membrana do tipo ATP Binding Cassette (ABCG2). Com relação a sinalização dos receptores toll-like (TLRs) no câncer, ainda é uma questão controvertida, pois dados conflitantes os apontam como reguladores negativos ou positivos da carcinogênese. Assim, os objetivos principais do presente estudo foram caracterizar e comparar os perfis das potenciais células-tronco uroteliais e correlacioná-los com a expressão e sinalização dos TLRs 2 e 4 no câncer da bexiga urinária. Para isso, foram selecionados tecidos de bexiga humana sem lesões uroteliais e outras com tumores não-músculo invasivos e músculo invasivos e separadas 30 (trinta) amostras obtidas de homens na faixa etária de 50 a 80 anos (média de 61 anos). Dez dessas amostras de bexiga foram provenientes de necropsia de pacientes sem diagnóstico de lesão urotelial ou doença urológica. As outras 20 amostras vesicais foram obtidas de pacientes submetidos à ressecção transuretral (RTU) e cistectomia radical. Em seguida, divididos em 3 grupos com 10 amostras cada e assim denominados: Grupo Normal, Grupo Câncer Não-Músculo Invasivo e Grupo Câncer Músculo Invasivo de bexiga. E por fim, as amostras foram processadas e submetidas às análises histopatológicas e imunohistoquímicas. Os resultados observados são os seguintes: As imunorreatividades para CD44 e CD133 foram significativamente intensas no grupo câncer músculo invasivo quando relacionadas aos demais grupos. O biomarcador ABCG2 apresentou intensa imunorreatividade nos grupos não-músculo e músculo invasivos, enquanto que no grupo normal a imunorreatividade para esse biomarcador foi ausente. Fraca imunorreatividade para o biomarcador CD117 foi verificada tanto no grupo normal quanto nos grupos não-músculo e músculo invasivos. Assim, as potenciais CTC apresentaram positividade para CD44/CD133/ABCG2 e ocorreram somente nos grupos tumores não-músculo e músculo invasivos. Com relação à caracterização das células-tronco uroteliais normais (CTU), estas foram positivas para CD44/CD133/CD117 e ocorreram com maior frequência no grupo normal em relação aos grupos não-músculo e músculo invasivos. Portanto, os 4 receptores analisados foram reconhecidos como possíveis identificadores de células tronco normais e cancerosas na bexiga. Com relação a análise dos receptores toll-like, as imunorreatividades para TLR2 e TLR4 foram significativamente reduzidas no grupo de pacientes com câncer não-músculo e músculo invasivos, sendo que a imunorreatividade para TLR2 foi ausente neste último. Assim, verificamos que no desenvolvimento dos tumores vesicais a partir de células tronco cancerosas, essas puderam ser identificadas com os marcadores propostos neste estudo e também que a expressão dos receptores TLR 2 e 4 nesta população celular foi mínima ou ausente, atuando, provavelmente, como receptores negativos na carcinogênese urotelial. Como os TLR2 e 4 provavelmente atuaram como reguladores negativos da carcinogênese urotelial pode-se concluir que possivelmente a ocorrência das CTC foi sensível ao decréscimo das imunorreatividades para os TLR2 e TLR4
Abstract: In different cancers a very small population of cells has been recognized as stem cells , since they have the capacity for self - renewal and differentiation. For their mapping in urothelial tumors, several cell surface markers are used to characterize both normal stem cells ( CTU ) and cancer ( CTC ) , foremost among them the surface antigens CD44 , CD117 and CD133 and membrane transporter ATP Binding Cassette type ( ABCG2 ) . Relationship with the signaling of toll-like receptors ( TLRs ) in cancer is still a controversial issue because conflicting data indicate them as negative or positive regulators of carcinogenesis . Thus, the main objectives of this study were to characterize and compare the profiles of urothelial stem cells and correlates them with the expression and signaling of TLRs in cancer of the urinary bladder . Tissues of human bladder urothelial lesions and no other separate tumors with invasive and invasive non- muscle and muscle were selected thirty (30 ) samples of men aged 50-80 years (mean 61 years). Ten of these samples were derived from autopsy bladder of patients without a diagnosis of urothelial injury or urologic disease. The other 20 bladder samples were obtained from patients undergoing transurethral resection (TURP ) and radical cystectomy. After this, divided into 3 groups with 10 samples each and named as follows: Normal Group , Group Non- Muscle Invasive Cancer Group and Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer . Then, the samples were processed and subjected to histological and immunohistochemical analysis. The observed results are as follows: The imunorreatividades for CD44 and CD133 were significantly intense in group Muscle Invasive Cancer as related to the other groups. The ABCG2 biomarker groups showed intense immunoreactivity in Non- Muscle Invasive and muscle, while in the Normal group immunoreactivity was absent for that biomarker . Weak immunoreactivity for CD117 biomarker was observed both in the Normal group and the groups Non-Muscle Invasive and Muscle. Thus, CTC were positive for CD44/CD133/ABCG2 and occurred only in tumors groups Non- Muscle Invasive and Muscle. Regarding the characterization of normal urothelial stem cells ( CTU ), these were positive for CD44/CD133/CD117 and occurred more frequently in the Normal group in relation to groups and Non-Muscle Invasive Muscle. Therefore, the four receptors were analyzed for possible identifiers recognized as normal stem cells and bladder cancer . Regarding the analysis of toll-like receptors, TLR2 and TLR4 to imunorreatividades were significantly reduced in patients with Cancer and Non- Muscle Invasive Muscle, and the TLR2 immunoreactivity was absent in the latter . Thus, we see that the development of bladder tumors from stem cells cancerous, these cells could be identified with markers and also proposed that the expression of TLR receptors 2 e 4 this cell population was minimal or absent, acting probably as receptors negative in urothelial carcinogenesis. As TLR2 and 4 probably acted as negative regulators of urothelial carcinogenesis can be concluded that most likely the occurrence of the CTC was sensitive to the decrease in imunorreactivities for TLR2 and TLR4
Doutorado
Fisiopatologia Cirúrgica
Doutor em Ciências

O diagnóstico de câncer e a necessidade de passar por vários tratamentos geram impactos e transformações na vida da pessoa. A reação individual para lidar com o itinerário da doença sofre influência do contexto sociocultural e repercute no modo de lidar com os sentimentos existenciais da experiência. Esses sentimentos podem ser expressos por termos diversos, entre eles, a depressão. O objetivo deste estudo foi interpretar os significados da depressão atribuídos pelos pacientes com câncer de bexiga em seguimento terapêutico, construídos com base em dados narrativos. Empregou-se a abordagem metodológica qualitativa, embasado pelo referencial teórico-metodológico da antropologia médica e do método da narrativa. Após aprovação ética para a pesquisa e consentimento das chefias da instituição coparticipante, foram convidados 12 participantes com câncer de bexiga, sem diagnóstico de depressão, em seguimento terapêutico no Ambulatório de Urologia Oncológica de um serviço de saúde de alta complexidade do interior do Estado de São Paulo, para participar do estudo. A coleta de dados ocorreu no período de janeiro 2014 a fevereiro de 2015, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas gravadas, observação direta e registros no diário de imersão, realizadas nos domicílios dos participantes e no serviço de saúde. Obteve-se uma amostra representativa do grupo, não intencional, homogênea quanto ao sexo, sendo a maioria acima de 60 anos, casados, com mais de sete anos de estudos e aposentados. Para tratamento, todos realizaram RTU com associação da BCG para a maioria, e houve três cistectomizados. A análise dos dados narrativos apoiou-se nos pressupostos da análise temática pelo processo indutivo. Identificaram-se as categorias com as quais elaboramos as unidades de sentidos do processo vivido com o câncer de bexiga e a depressão, compondo os modelos explanatórios dos pacientes. As unidades de sentidos serviram de guia para a construção de duas sínteses narrativas e seus significados: \"O paradoxo da vida com câncer de bexiga\" e \"A depressão como emoção no câncer de bexiga em seguimento terapêutico\". A primeira síntese aborda as dificuldades com o processo da doença e tratamento enquanto rupturas na vida, futuro incerto pela possibilidade de recidiva da doença, necessidade de continuidade do tratamento para o controle da doença e a lógica compensatória de controle emocional, relacionando-se com as ponderações contraditórias da vida atual. Assim, o significado desta síntese narrativa é de paradoxo. A segunda síntese aborda a incorporação do termo depressão ao senso comum, o qual revela a dimensão sociocultural da condição de ser sobrevivente oncológico em seguimento terapêutico. O seu significado revela a depressão no câncer como prática social e expressão de subjetividade, por meio da emoção de tristeza. Esta investigação permitiu-nos interpretar os significados da depressão atribuídos pelos adoecidos com câncer de bexiga segundo suas experiências. Como considerações finais, destacamos a importância dos enfermeiros em darem atenção à saúde mental do adoecido pelo câncer, pela escuta das suas subjetividades para promoveram intervenções adequadas, objetivando a integralidade do cuidado
The diagnosis of cancer and the need to undergo several treatments cause impact and change in the people\'s life. The personal reaction in coping with the itinerary of the disease suffers influence of the sociocultural context affecting the way of dealing with existential feelings from experience. These feelings can be related through different terms, among them, depression. The aim of study was to interpret the meanings of the depression attributed by patients with bladder cancer under therapeutic follow-up, based on their narratives. It was used the qualitative methodological approach, supported by theoretical-methodological referential of medical anthropology and narrative method. After ethical approval for the research and agreement of the heads of institutions, as coparticipants, 12 individuals were invited to participate of the study, they all with bladder cancer, without depression diagnosis, under therapeutic follow-up at the Oncological Urology Clinic that provide health service of high complexity in the countryside of São Paulo state . The data collection occurred from January 2014 to February 2015, through recorded semi-structured interviews, direct observations and it were registered in the immersion diary. These activities were held at the patients´ residences and in the health service. It was obtained a representative sample of the group, non-intentional, homogeneous regard to sex, being the most part of the patients over 60 years old, married, with more seven years of schooling and retired. For treatment, they all were submitted to TUR, with BCG association for the greater part and three of them by cystectomy. The analysis of narratives data was supported on the assumptions of thematic analysis by inductive process. The categories were identified and used to elaborate the units of senses of the experienced process by bladder cancer and depression as well as built the explanatory models of the patients. These units of senses served as guide for construction of two narratives syntheses and their meanings: \"The paradox of life with bladder cancer\" and \"The depression as emotion with bladder cancer under therapeutic follow-up\". The first synthesis addresses the difficulties with disease process and treatment as rupture of life, an uncertain future on the possibility of recurrence of the disease, the need of continuous treatment to control the disease and compensatory logic of the emotional control relating to contradictories considerations of the current life. Thus, the meaning of this narrative synthesis is paradox. The second synthesis approaches the incorporation of the depression term to common sense, which exposes the sociocultural dimension of the condition of being cancer survivor under therapeutic follow-up; its meaning reveals depression in cancer as social practice and subjectivity expression through emotion of sadness. This research allowed us to interpret the meanings of depression attributed by patients with bladder cancer according to their experiences. As final consideration, we emphasize the importance of the nurses to give attention to the mental health of the patients with cancer, by listening to their subjectivities to promote appropriate interventions, aiming care completeness

Objetivo: Identificar os principais fatores prognósticos patológicos do carcinoma urotelial tratado com cistectomia radical e linfadenectomia pélvica, analisar o impacto desses na sobrevida livre de doença (RFS), câncer específico (CSS), geral (OS) e propor um conjunto de fatores que possa prever a evolução. Métodos: Realizamos levantamento dos casos de cistectomia radical e linfadenectomia no período de 2006 a 2009 no Hospital das Clinicas da FMUSP. Correlacionamos fatores prognósticos patológicos estádio (pT), grau tumoral, presença de metástase linfática (pN), invasão linfovascular (LVI), perineural (PNI) e presença de CIS com RFS, CSS e OS. Consideramos significante quando p > 0,05. Resultados: Avaliamos 128 casos que obedeceram aos critérios sendo 20 (15,6%) femininos e 108 (84,4%) masculinos, idades variando de 41 a 84 anos e média de 67 anos. Constatamos associação de recidiva com estádio >pT2 (p=0,032) e pN+ (p=0,003). Os fatores estádio >pT2 (p=0,001), pN+ (p=0,034) LVI+ (p=0,038), e PNI+ (p=0,024) tiveram associação com óbito pela doença e a morte geral com estádio >pT2 (p=0,001), pN+ (p=0,038) e PNI+ (p=0,01). A análise multivariada demonstrou que apenas estádio >pT2 e pN+ são os fatores prognósticos independentes na RFS, CSS e OS. Conclusão: A análise dos fatores patológicos após cistectomia radical e linfadenectomia demonstrou que estádio >pT2 e pN+ são os fatores prognósticos mais importantes no CaB
Objective: To identify the most important pathologic prognostic factors for urothelial bladder cancer treated by cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy, analyze the impact of these on recurrence and mortality and suggest a group of factors that can predict the outcome after surgery. Method: We review all radical cystectomy and lymphadenectomy cases at the Clinical Hospital of São Paulo Medical School from 2006 to 2009. We correlate the following pathologic prognostic factors tumor stage (pT), tumor grade, lymphonodal metastasis (pN), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), perineural invasion (PNI), presence of CIS with RFS, CSS and OS. We considered a significant association p<0.05. Results: We selected 128 cases for this study. There were 20 (15.6%) females and 108 (84.4%) males, ages ranging from 41 years to 84 years and an average 67 years old. The tumor recurrence was associated with stage >pT2 (0,032) and pN+ (p=0.003). Stage >pT2 (p=0.001), pN+ (p=0.034), LVI+ (p=0.038) and PNI+ (p=0.024) was associated with death by cancer and overall death with stage >pT2 (p=0.001), N+ (p=0.038) and PNI (p=0.01). The multivariate analysis found that only stage >pT2 and pN+ were independent prognostic variable for RFS, CSS and OS. Conclusion: The analysis of pathologic prognostic factors after radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy show that stage >pT2 and pN+ has strong association with RFS, CSS and OS

Introdução: A imunoterapia intravesical com o bacilo de Calmette-Guérin (BCG) é o tratamento adjuvante de escolha no câncer superficial de bexiga. Recentemente, os estudos do mecanismo imunoterápico do BCG têm permitido identificar as reações imunológicas e os genes associados ao efeito antitumoral, possibilitando a produção de vacinas recombinantes, possivelmente mais efetivas e com menos efeitos colaterais. Com esses objetivos, associou-se o componente pertussis (S1PT) ao BCG, criando uma variante recombinante (rBCG-S1PT) com capacidade para promover uma resposta imune direcionada ao tipo T helper 1 (Th1), o que poderá elevar a eficácia antitumoral do imunoterápico. Objetivo: Avaliar comparativamente o efeito antitumoral do rBCG-S1PT e do BCG no modelo experimental de carcinoma urotelial de bexiga. Métodos: O estabelecimento do modelo murino ortotópico e singênico de tumor vesical foi realizado através da implantação transuretral das células tumorais de bexiga da linhagem MB49 de camundongo C57BL/6. Experimento I Os animais (modelo experimental) foram divididos em três grupos, os quais receberam 4 aplicações semanais de rBCG-S1PT, BCG, ou soro fisiológico (grupo controle), por via intravesical. Após 7 dias da última aplicação, foram extraídos o baço e a bexiga, com o intuito de inferir o peso tumoral. Em seguida, as bexigas foram submetidas à avaliação do padrão de resposta imunológica e exame anátomo-patológico e imunohistoquímico. Experimento II Realizado como descrito no Experimento I, porém os animais foram acompanhados por 60 dias para análise de sobrevida. Experimento III Este ensaio foi realizado como descrito anteriormente, porém não foi realizada a implantação tumoral, para controle dos achados imunológicos e anátomo-patológicos. Resultados: A taxa média de implantação tumoral foi de aproximadamente 90% dos animais inoculados. Obtivemos redução das médias dos pesos vesicais dos grupos BCG e rBCG-S1PT (p<0,001). Nos dois grupos tratados com os imunoterápicos observou-se aumento significativo da expressão de TNF-, a qual foi mais intensa com o uso do rBCGS1PT (p<0,05). A IL-10 também teve aumento significante de sua expressão no grupo BCG recombinante (p<0,01). Os esplenócitos provenientes dos camundongos que foram tratados com imunoterápicos diminuíram a viabilidade das células tumorais MB49, sendo que este efeito foi mais intenso no grupo rBCG-S1PT. O grupo de animais tratados com rBCG-S1PT apresentou aumento significativo da sobrevida em relação aos outros grupos (Experimento II). As aplicações dos imunoterápicos em animais sem tumor (experimento III) não revelaram diferenças histológicas em relação ao grupo controle e o padrão de resposta imunológica encontrado sugere uma tendência à resposta Th1. Conclusão: Obtivemos sucesso no estabelecimento do modelo murino ortotópico singênico de tumor vesical. O imunoterápico rBCG-S1PT apresentou mais benefícios no tratamento do tumor vesical ortotópico em camundongos em relação ao BCG, como também maior redução da viabilidade das células tumorais in vitro. A cepa rBCG-S1PT apresentou elevação significativamente maior das citocinas da resposta imune Th1 em relação aos demais grupos. Concluimos, então, que os dados apresentados sugerem a possibilidade deste recombinante proporcionar melhor controle clínico do tumor vesical em humanos que a imunoterapia com BCG
Introduction: The intravesical immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the adjuvant treatment of choice in superficial bladder cancer. Recently, studies of the mechanism of BCG have identified the immune reactions favorable and the genes responsible for the antitumor effect, enabling the production of recombinant vaccines, possibly more effective and with fewer side effects. With those goals, the pertussis toxin (S1PT) was combined to BCG, creating a recombinant variant (rBCG-S1PT) with the capacity to promote an immune response targeted to the T helper type 1 (Th1), which may increase the effectiveness of its antitumor effect. Objective: Compare the antitumor effects of rBCG-S1PT and BCG in an experimental model of bladder cancer. Methods: The development of the animal model of bladder cancer was conducted by transurethral instillation of bladder tumor cell line MB49 of the mouse strain C57BL/6, setting the orthotopic and syngeneic murine model. Experiment I - The animal models were divided into three groups, which received 4 weekly intravesical applications of rBCG-S1PT, BCG, or saline (SF - control group). After 7 days of the last instillation, splenectomy was performed for splenocyte culture and the bladders extracted and weighed in order to infer the tumor weight. Then, the bladders were divided into two pieces. The first was used for molecular analysis to assess the pattern of immune response. The second was sent to histopathological analysis. Experiment II - Held as described in Experiment I, but the animals were monitored for 60 days for analysis of survival. Experiment III - This test was carried out as previously described (Experiment I), but with no tumor cells instillation. Results: The rate of tumor implantation was 90% of the animals submitted to tumor inoculation. We obtained reduction of the average weights of bladder in groups BCG and rBCG-S1PT ((p<0,001). In both groups treated with immunotherapy, there was an increase of expression of interleukins TNF-, which was more intense in the group treated with rBCG-S1PT (p<0,05). There was also increased expression of IL-10 in the recombinant BCG (p<0,01). The splenocytes from animals that received immunotherapies had reduced tumor cells viability, more intensely demonstrated in the rBCG-S1PT group. The analysis of survival showed a significant increase in the group of animals treated with rBCGS1PT (Experiment II). The instillation of immunotherapeutic agents in animals without tumor did not demonstrate histological differences when compared to the control group and the immunological response pattern was similar to that of Experiment I (Experiment III). Conclusion: The establishment of the syngeneic orthotopic animal model was successful. The immunotherapy with rBCG-S1PT demonstrated more benefits than BCG in the treatment of bladder cancer in mice, reducing the bladder weight, increasing survival, and reducing tumor cells viability in vitro. The immune response obtained with the rBCG-S1PT expressed higher cytokines related to Th1. All this data may indicate that this recombinant agent may promote better bladder tumor control than BCG imunotherapy

This thesis addresses the three principal questions concerning the development of CT urography for investigating haematuria and each question is the subject of a separate chapter. The questions are: What is the reasoning behind using CT urography? What is the optimum diagnostic strategy using CT urography? What are the problems with using CT urography and how may solutions be provided? Haematuria can signify serious disease such as urinary tract stones, renal cell cancer, upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) and bladder cancer (BCa). CT urography is defined as contrast enhanced CT examination of kidneys, ureters and bladder. The technique used here includes unenhanced, nephrographic and excretory-phases for optimized diagnosis of stones, renal masses and urothelial cancer respectively. The reasoning behind using excretory-phase CT urography for investigating haematuria is based on results showing its high diagnostic accuracy for UTUC and BCa. Patients with haematuria are classified as low risk or high risk for UTUC and BCa, by a risk score, determined by the presence/absence of risk factors: age > 50 years, visible or nonvisible haematuria, history of smoking and occupational exposure. The optimum diagnostic strategy for patients at high risk for urothelial cancer, uses CT urography as a replacement test for ultrasonography and intravenous urography and as a triage test for flexible and rigid cystoscopy, resulting in earlier diagnosis and potentially improving prognosis. For patients at low risk, ultrasonography, unenhanced and nephrographic-phase CT urography are proposed as initial imaging tests. Problems with using CT urography include false positive results for UTUC, which are eliminated by retrograde ureteropyelography-guided biopsy, an innovative technique, for histopathological confirmation of diagnosis. Recommendations for the NHS and possible future developments are discussed. CT urography, including excretory-phase imaging, is recommended as the initial diagnostic imaging test before cystoscopy for patients with haematuria at high risk for urothelial cancer.

Abstract This study examined the role of tumor suppressor neurofibromin and Protein kinase C (PKC) in urinary bladder cancer, and the effect of PKC inhibitors on cancer cell behaviour. Tumor suppressor protein neurofibromin is a product of the NF1 gene, a mutation of which causes the most common hereditary tumor syndrome, type 1 neurofibromatosis. NF1 gene mutations and changes in expression have been demonstrated in malignancies, unrelated to type 1 neurofibromatosis. The best known function of neurofibromin is its Ras GTPase accelerating function. Thus, it functions as a Ras inactivator. This study demonstrated for the first time that the NF1 gene is expressed in normal and malignant urinary bladder epithelium and in cultured bladder carcinoma cells in mRNA and at the protein level. Furthermore, neurofibromin expression is decreased during bladder carcinogenesis. It can be speculated that this may lead to increased Ras activity in urinary bladder cancer. The PKC family is composed of several different isoenzymes which are responsible for a number of important intracellular events and cellular functions. Many of these are also important in cancer development and progression. The results demonstrate changes in expression of PKC α and βI isoenzymes in urinary bladder carcinoma. Furthermore, the results relate the increased expression of isoenzymes to increased PKC enzyme activity and the high proliferation rate of the cancer cells. In addition, this study utilizes small molecular inhibitors of PKC isoenzymes in order to study the effect of the inhibition of these isoenzymes on cancer cell behaviour in vitro and in vivo. The study mainly focuses on the function of PKC α and βI isoenzymes and on the effects of inhibition of these by using Go6976. The results show that Go6976 inhibits cancer cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro, and tumor growth in a mouse model. The use of Go6976 induces changes in desmosomes and adherens junctions, and in focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes. The results also show that Go6976 functions as a cell cycle checkpoint abrogator and increases the cytotoxicity of two classical chemotherapeutic agents, doxorubicin and paclitaxel. In the future, it may be possible that Go6976 or related drugs could be used in clinical cancer treatments.

Introdução: O câncer de próstata (CaP) é o tumor sólido mais diagnosticado no homem atualmente, e a sexta ocorrência mais frequente de casos novos de neoplasia maligna no mundo, sendo a segunda causa de óbito por câncer. O câncer de bexiga (CaB) é a segunda neoplasia maligna mais comum e a segunda em causa de óbito entre os tumores genito-urinários. Mundialmente o CaB é responsável por aproximadamente 386.000 novos casos e 150.000 óbitos por ano. O conhecimento das alterações em processos celulares envolvidos na sua carcinogênese nos permite melhor compreensão da patogênese dessas neoplasias, subsidiando, assim, mais efetivamente, o planejamento de estratégias de prevenção, diagnóstico e tratamento. Micro RNA (miRNA) são pequenas sequências não codificantes de RNA que possuem grande papel no controle da expressão dos genes, inibindo a tradução da proteína ou promovendo a degradação do RNA mensageiro (RNAm). Os miRNA estão envolvidos em vários processos celulares fisiológicos e patológicos, incluindo o câncer, onde podem atuar como oncogenes (oncomiR) ou como supressores de tumor (tsmiR). Previamente demonstramos que níveis elevados de miR-100 estão relacionados a recidiva bioquímica pós-prostatectomia radical enquanto no carcinoma urotelial de bexiga de baixo grau ocorre subexpressão desse miRNA. Objetivo: O estudo pretende analisar o papel do miR-100 na regulação de seus supostos genes alvo SMARCA5, THAP2, BAZ2A, mTOR e FGFR3 em linhagens de CaB e CaP e sua relação com a proliferação, apoptose e ploidia de DNA Material e Métodos: As linhagens de CaB (RT4 e T24) e CaP (DU145 e PC3) foram transfectadas com pré-miR-100, antimiR-100 e seus respectivos controles negativos utilizando lipossomas. Após a transfecção o nível de expressão de RNAm e proteína dos genes alvos foi analisado pelas técnicas da cadeia da polimerase quantitativa em tempo real (qRT-PCR) e western blotting respectivamente. A proliferação celular, apoptose e instabilidade cromossômica foram analisadas por citometria de fluxo. Resultados: A transfecção de pré-miR 100, reduziu de modo significativo a expressão de RNAm dos genes mTOR(p=0,006), SMARCA5 (p=0,007) e BAZ2A (p=0,03) na linhagem RT4, mTOR (p=0,02) e SMARCA5 (p=0,01) na linhagem T24, mTOR (p=0,025), THAP2 (p=0,04), SMARCA5 (p=0,001) e BAZ2A (p=0,005) na linhagem DU145 e mTOR (p=0,01) na linhagem PC3. Quanto a expressão proteica houve diminuição global da expressão de todas as proteínas varável de 22,5% a 69% nas quatro linhagens estudadas. Na linhagem T24 miR-100 promoveu um aumento na proliferação e o antimiR-100 induziu a apoptose demonstrando o papel oncogênico desse miR no câncer de bexiga de alto grau. Na linhagem PC3, do mesmo modo, a exposição ao antimiR-100 promoveu um aumento de células em apoptose. Conclusões: Demonstramos que miR-100 controla a expressão gênica e proteica de seus genes alvos nas linhagens de CaP e CaB. Os genes mTOR e FGFR3 são proto-oncogenes envolvidos com o desenvolvimento e progressão de neoplasias, enquanto os genes BAZ2A, SMARCA5 e THAP2 estão relacionados a regulação da transcrição, estabilidade genômica e indução da apoptose. Desse modo podemos admitir que miR-100 tem um papel contraditório no câncer, podendo se comportar como um oncomiR ou como um tsmiR, o que o classificaria como um miRNA \"contexto dependente\". Demonstramos porém que miR-100 tem um papel oncogênico na linhagem T24 de carcinoma urotelial de alto grau de bexiga promovendo um aumento na proliferação e inibição da apoptose. Na linhagem PC3 também o papel oncogênico de miR-100 pode estar relacionado a inibição da apoptose. Dada a variação de ação dos miRNA nos diversos tecidos e estágios tumorais, a determinação do seu papel nos diversos tumores é fundamental pois existe a possibilidade de utiliza-los como marcadores diagnóstico, prognóstico e como alvos para terapias moleculares
Introduction: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed solid tumor in men today, and the sixth most frequent occurrence of new cases of malignancy in the world, being the second cause of death by cancer in men. Bladder cancer (BC) is the second most common malignancy and the second cause of death among genitourinary tumors. Globally BC is responsible for approximately 386.000 new cases and 150.000 deaths per year. The knowledge of cellular processes involved in carcinogenesis allows us to better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of these neoplasms, supporting thus more effectively, planning strategies for prevention and treatment. Micro RNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNA sequences that have a large role in the control of gene expression by inhibiting protein translation or promoting the degradation of messenger RNA (RNAm). The miRNA are currently involved in various physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cancer where they can act as oncogenes (oncomiR) or tumor suppressors (tsmiR). Previously we demonstrated that high levels of miR-100 are associated with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy while in low-grade bladder urothelial carcinoma it is persistently underexpressed. Objective: The study aims to examine the role of miR-100 in the regulation of its supposed target genes SMARCA5, THAP2, BAZ2A, mTOR and FGFR3 in BC and PC cell lines and its relationship with proliferation, apoptosis and chromosomal instability. Material and Methods: The BC (RT4 and T24) and PC cell lines (DU145 and PC3) were transfected with pre-miR-100, antimiR-100 and their respective controls using liposomes. After transfection RNAm and protein levels of its supposed target genes were analyzed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and DNA ploidy were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: After transfection of pre-miR 100, there was a significant reduction in the RNAm expression of mTOR (p=0.006), SMARCA5 (p=0.007) and BAZ2A (p=0.03) in RT4, mTOR (p=0.02) and SMARCA5 (p=0.01) in T24, mTOR (p=0.025), THAP2 (p=0.04), SMARCA5 (p=0.001) and BAZ2A (p=0.005) in DU145 and mTOR (p=0.01) in PC3. There was a reduction in the expression of all proteins, variable from 22.5% to 69% in all cell lines. In T24 miR-100 promoted an increase in cell proliferation and antimiR-100 promoted apoptosis characterizing miR-100 as an oncomiR in this cell line representative of a right grade urothelial carcinoma. Also in PC3 antimiR-100 promoted an increase in apoptosis. Conclusions: We have shown that miR-100 controls the expression of gene and protein of its supposed target genes in PC and BC cell lines. mTOR and FGFR3 are proto-oncogenes related to the tumor development and progression, while BAZ2A, SMARCA5 and THAP2 are related to the DNA transcription regulation, chromossomic stability and apoptosis induction. We can conclude that miR-100 has a contradictory role in cancer, behaving as an oncomir or tsmiR depending the type and stage of a specific neoplasia, classifying it as a \"context depending\" miRNA. In T24 cell line however miR-100 acts as an oncomiR increasing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. In PC3 cell line miR-100 also acts as an oncomiR inhibiting apoptosis. Due to the variation of roles of miRNAs in different tissues and stage of tumors, the characterization of their role in neoplasm is very important because of the possibility to use them as diagnostic or prognostic markers, even as targets for the development of new drugs

Introdução: O Carcinoma Urotelial de Bexiga (CUB) é o segundo tumor urológico mais prevalente no Brasil. Devido ao elevado custo médico no processo que envolve seu diagnóstico, tratamento e seguimento, o CUB é um dos tipos de tumores mais caros para os sistemas de saúde. Embora existam fatores prognósticos definidos, como o estadiamento patológico, a diferenciação histológica e a presença de invasão angiolinfática (IAL), os mesmos demonstram-se insuficientes para uma acurada definição de comportamento da doença. Com a evolução da pesquisa molecular um grande número de potenciais novos marcadores de agressividade tem surgido. As Metaloproteinases da matriz (MMP) sao proteínas teciduais, pertencentes à família das endoproteinases, que degradam vários componentes da matriz extracelular. A expressão de diversas MMPs, especialmente MMP-2 e MMP-9 (gelatinases), bem como seus ativadores e inibidores, tem sido estudada como potencial marcador de comportamento tumoral em várias neoplasias. Objetivos: Avaliarmos os níveis de expressão dos genes das gelatinases MMP-2 e MMP-9 no CUB, assim como proteínas envolvidas em suas vias de ativação e inibição (MMP-14, IL-8, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, RECK e TGF-! ). Material e Método: Estudamos pela técnica de qRT-PCR a expressão dos 8 genes em amostras de CUB de 40 pacientes submetidos a RTUb, tendo como grupo controle amostras de urotélio sem câncer de 6 pacientes submetidos a prostatectomia aberta por HPB, bem como sua relação com marcadores prognósticos clássicos (estádio, grau e IAL). Resultados: Houve uma superexpressão de MMP-9 na maioria das amostras de CUB, bem como subexpressão de MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-14, IL-8, TGF-! e RECK. Comparando os níveis de expressão dos genes com o estádio patológico, houve uma superexpressão de MMP-9 nos tumores pT1-2, quando comparados com pTa (p=0,026), bem como maior expressão de IL-8 nos tumores pT1 e pT2 (p=0,015 e p=0,048, respectivamente). Embora estatisticamente nao significativa, houve uma superexpressão de MMP-14 nos tumores pT2, quando comparados aos demais (p=0,087). Com relação ao grau histológico, também identificamos superexpressão de MMP-9 nos tumores de alto grau, quando comparados aos de baixo grau (p=0,012), assim como maior expressão de IL-8 nos tumores de alto grau (p=0,003). Conclusão: Houve uma superexpressão de MMP-9 e uma subexpressão de MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-14, RECK, IL-8 e TGF-! no CUB, quando comparado com o grupo controle. Também identificamos uma superexpressão de MMP-9 e IL-8 em tumores pT1-2 quando comparados com pTa e de alto grau quando comparados com baixo grau. A subexpressão dos principais inibidores da MMP-9 (TIMP-1 e RECK) pode explicar sua superexpressão no CUB, assim como a superexpressão de IL-8 nos tumores invasivos e de alto grau pode agir como fator ativador da MMP-9 nestes mesmos tumores
Introduction: Bladder cancer (BC) is the second most common urological tumor in Brazil. Because its high cost on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, BC is one of the most expensive malignancies for health care providers. Although we have well-known prognostic factors, like pathological stage, histologic grade and lymphovascular invasion, they are insufficient to figure more accurate tumor aggressiveness. Recent molecular biology helped us to discover a huge amount of potential markers. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are tissue endopeptidases that degrade components of extracellular matrix. Expression of several MMP, specially MMP-2 and MMP-9 (gelatinases), and their activators and inhibitors, are investigated as potential behavior markers in many neoplasms. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate expression levels of gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in BC, as well as other proteins evolved in the activation and inhibition pathways (MMP-14, IL-8, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, RECK e TGF-b). Material and Method: Present study analyzed tissue expression of 8 genes in BC samples of transutethral resection of 40 patients by qRT-PCR, as well as their relation with current prognostic factors (stage, grade and LVI). The control group was composed of utothelial tissue from 6 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated surgically with retropubic prostatectomy. Results: In the tumor samples, MMP-9 presented an overexpression and MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-14, RECK, IL-8, and TGF-b were underexpressed in BC tissue compared to control. Comparing gene level expression to pathologic stage, there was MMP-9 overexpression in pT1-2 tumors compared to pTa (p=0.026), as wall as IL-8 overexpression in pT1 and pT2 tumors (p=0.015 e p=0.048, respectively). Although not statiscally significant, there was MMP-14 overexpression in pT2 tumors in comparison to pTa-1 (p=0.087). About grade, there was MMP-9 overexpression in high-grade tumors compared to low-grade (p=0.012), as well as IL-8 overexpression in high-grade tumors (p=0.003). There was not relation of any gene expression to LVI. Conclusions: We found overexpression of MMP-9 and underexpression of MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-14, RECK, TGF-b and IL-8 in BC compared with the control group. According to the prognostic factors we found increased levels of MMP-9 and IL-8 gene expression in pT1-2 compared to pTa tumors and high-grade compared to low-grade tumors. Underexpression of major MMP-9 inhibitors (TIMP-1 and RECK) could explain MMP-9 overexpression in BC, as well as IL-8 overexpression in high-grade and stage tumors could act as activation factor of MMP-9 in these tumors

INTRODUÇÃO: Os pacientes oncológicos exigem um olhar diferenciado da equipe multiprofissional que o assiste. O câncer provoca um estresse de longo prazo. Fora a preocupação imediata com a morte, o medo relacionado à dor e às deformidades físicas deixam os pacientes em total quadro de ansiedade e muitas vezes, quadros depressivos se instalam no diagnóstico e se prolongam após o tratamento. Para o tratamento do câncer de bexiga é realizada a cistectomia total, desta forma torna-se necessária a utilização de técnicas de derivação urinária (Bricker ou neobexiga), ambas tem seus benefícios e empecilhos que irão influenciar diretamente na qualidade de vida desses pacientes. OBJETIVO: Comparar as alterações de qualidade de vida em pacientes submetidos às técnicas de reconstrução urinária por neobexiga ortotópica ou derivação urinária a Bricker em pacientes submetidos à cistectomia radical. MÉTODO: Foi realizado estudo qualitativo, transversal de 67 pacientes submetidos à cistectomia radical, divididos em dois grupos: 1) Neobexiga e 2) ureteroileostomia cutânea (Bricker) operados no período de Julho/2005 a Outubro/2010, pela mesma equipe cirúrgica, no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Foram utilizados para entrevista a ficha Sócio- Demográfica, a Escala de Ansiedade e Depressão e o Questionário SF36. RESULTADOS: Observamos que a média de idade do grupo Bricker é significativamente maior que a do grupo com neobexiga (p = 0,036). Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas proporções de sexo entre os dois grupos (p = 0,963). Quanto às demais adaptações pós-operatórias, como retorno ao trabalho, sono e repouso, nível de ansiedade e depressão, em nosso estudo não foi encontrada diferença significativa entre as técnicas. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve diferença significativa, com relação a qualidade de vida pós operatória, entre os pacientes submetidos a derivação urinária por neobexiga ortotópica ou Bricker
INTRODUCTION: Cancer patients require a different view of the multidisciplinary team because cancer may cause long-term stress. The concern with death, fear related to pain and physical deformities leave patients in complete of anxiety and depression settle in the diagnosis and continue after treatment. Physical and mental distress is common while living with cancer illness. Patients commonly suffer because the concern with death, fear related to pain and physical deformities. For the treatment of bladder cancer a radical cystectomy is performed and the choice of transposed intestinal segment surgery ranges from incontinent urinary diversion through an abdominal stoma (ileal conduit diversion) to continent urinary diversion to orthotopic bladder replacement (orthotopic neobladder), both have their benefits and drawbacks that will directly influence the quality of life of these patients. OBJECTIVE: We compared health-related quality of life between patients who underwent orthotopic neobladder or an ileal conduit urinary diversion following radical cystectomy. METHOD: The study included 67 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, divided into two groups: 1) Neobladder; 2) Ileal conduit diversion (Bricker). Health related quality of life was evaluated using the Short Form-36 survey, a patient demographic sheet and the anxiety and depression scale. RESULTS: When compared the mean age, we found that the mean age of the Bricker group is significantly higher than in the neobladder group (p = 0.036). There were no significant differences in sex ratios between the two groups (p = 0.963). There was no significant difference in any scale scores between the neobladder and ileal conduit groups. Conclusion: No significant postoperative differences were observed in the QOL associated with the urinary diversion.

Chan Wing Yan Michael.
"August 2002."
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 168-200).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Abstracts in English and Chinese.

膀胱尿路上皮腫瘤發病率在泌尿道腫瘤中排第二位，它具有高複發性的特點。目前，有創性尿道膀胱鏡檢查是診斷的金標準。儘管先後有很多血液或尿液中的分子被先後用於診斷膀胱癌的診斷研究，但到目前為止尚未有任何一種方法可以取代膀胱鏡檢查。有證據表明在膀胱上皮腫瘤組織中有很多異常表達的microRNA，但是內在機制的有關研究相對缺乏。在本研究中，我們利用在尿液上清中異常表達的microRNA來評估它們在膀胱癌診斷中的價值。而且，我們揭示了其潛在的調控機理。通過microRNA基因芯片，我們結合并對比來自膀胱腫瘤病人和正常對照患者的9個尿液上清樣本，以及4對腫瘤組織及臨近正常黏膜上皮中microRNA的表達，初步篩選出10個異常的microRNA。然後我們使用定量RT-PCR的方法在另外獨立的18對腫瘤組織和正常黏膜中進一步驗證芯片結果。最後我們就6個被帥選出來的microRNA在71例的膀胱癌患者和正常對照組的尿液上清中進行檢測並評估其診斷效能。我們發現，miR-125b和miR-99a的表達在膀胱癌患者的尿液上清中明顯下調。另外，它們下調程度與腫瘤的病理分級相關。結合miR-125b和miR-99b兩者作為診斷膀胱癌的指標，靈敏度達86.7%，特異度達81.1%，同時有陽性預測值達91.8%。當作為腫瘤分級指標，miR-125b具有81.4%的敏感度，87.0%的特異度，陽性預測值達93.4%。膀胱腫瘤切除之後，和術前比較，兩個microRNA的表達水平再度上升。我們將miR-99轉染到三個膀胱腫瘤細胞株中（T24，UMUC3和J82）。我們發現miR-99a對UMUC3細胞具有輕微的抗增殖功能。同時，miR-99a在3個細胞株中顯示均顯示具有抗遷移和抗侵襲能力。為尋找miR-99a的目標mRNA，我們結合數據庫算法預測，在Western blot中驗證到miR-99a能顯著下調VLDLR蛋白。隨後我們將帶有VLDLR的3'UTR質粒轉染進入細胞中并證實VLDLR mRNA是miR-99a直接作用的目標。另外，當VLDLR siRNA被轉入3個細胞株之後，我們觀察到相似的抗遷移和抗侵襲的現象。最後我們發現N-cadherin是該通路中的下游抑制遷移和侵襲的分子。本項研究證實研究尿液上清中的microRNA是可行的。MiR-125b和miR-99a是膀胱腫瘤的診斷和分級的有效指標。此外，miR-99a能夠通過和VLDLR mRNA直接結合從而抑制膀胱腫瘤遷移和侵襲功能。
Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) is the second most common malignancy in the urological system with high recurrence rate. Current gold standard examination for diagnosis is urethrocystoscopy, which is an invasive procedure. Although numerous molecular markers in blood or urine have been proposed as diagnostic biomarkers for bladder cancer, none of them could replace urethrocystoscopy in clinical practice. There are accumulating evidences suggesting microRNA dysregulation might be related to the pathogenesis of UCB. However, the exact functions of these microRNAs in UCB remain unknown. In this thesis, the role of selected microRNAs in urine supernatant was investigated in the diagnosis of UCB and also the carcinogenesis of UCB.
In brief, a high-throughput microarray was carried out on nine supernatants of urine from UCB and normal subjects, and also four pairs of tissue from UCB and normal mucosa. Ten microRNA candidates were then identified. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate these microRNAs on a set of 18 pairs of tumor tissue and normal mucosa. Eventually, six potential candidate microRNAs were selected and then validated as diagnostic tools on the samples of urine supernatants from 71 patients (50 of known UCB and 21 of normal subjects). The expression levels of these selected microRNAs were further evaluated in the urine supernatants of 20 patients after tumors resections. MiR-125b and miR-99a were the two most significantly down-regulated microRNAs in the urine supernatants of patients with UCB. Moreover, the degree of down-regulation was associated with the pathological grade of the tumor. A combined index of miR-125b and miR-99a in urine supernatant had a sensitivity of 86.7%, specificity of 81.1%, and a positive predicted value of 91.8% for diagnosing UCB. When used to discriminate high-grade from low-grade UCB, miR-125b alone had a sensitivity of 81.4%, specificity of 87.0% and PPV of 93.4%. After transurethral resections, the expression levels of both microRNAs were significantly increased compared to pre-operative levels.
In further studies on the role of microRNAs on the development of UCB, miR-99a was selected for further studies. The precursor of miR-99a was temporally transfected into 3 bladder cancer cell lines: T24, UMUC3 and J82. The proliferation ability was noticed to be suppressed mildly in UMUC3, but not the other. Meanwhile, migration and invasion abilities were inhibited by miR-99a in the all 3 cell lines. Potential targets of miR-99a were predicted from several prediction databases. Subsequently, in Western Blot study, the protein level of very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) was showed to be down-regulated by miR-99a. Thereafter, a plasmid constructed with 3’UTR of VLDLR was transfected into cytoplasm, which confirmed VLDLR mRNA was a direct target of miR-99a. All 3 cells lines showed the same effect on suppression of migration and invasion after knockdown of VLDLR. N-cadherin was identified as a down-stream molecule responsible for the migration and invasion suppression in this pathway.
This study confirmed microRNA expression in urine supernatants was a feasible approach for the assessment of biomarkers, and miR-125b and miR-99a showed promising results in the diagnosis and grading of UCB. Furthermore, we showed that miR-99a suppressed tumor migration and invasion by directly targeting VLDLR.
Detailed summary in vernacular field only.
Zhang, Dingzuan.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-131).
Abstract and appendix also in Chinese.
Abstract --- p.I
摘要 --- p.III
Acknowledgments --- p.V
Abbreviations --- p.VII
List of figures --- p.IX
List of Tables --- p.XI
Content --- p.XII
Chapter Chapter I: --- General Introduction
Chapter 1.1 --- Bladder cancer --- p.1
Chapter 1.1.1 --- The incidence of bladder cancer
Chapter 1.1.2 --- The burden of bladder cancer to the health care system
Chapter 1.1.3 --- Risk factors for bladder cancer
Chapter 1.1.4 --- Pathology grading system in bladder cancer
Chapter 1.1.5 --- Current diagnostic methods and treatment for bladder cancer
Chapter 1.2 --- Biomarkers for bladder cancer --- p.7
Chapter 1.2.1 --- The advantages of biomarkers in blood and urine for the diagnosis of bladder cancer
Chapter 1.2.2 --- Biomarkers in blood for bladder cancer
Chapter 1.2.3 --- Biomarkers in the urine for bladder cancer
Chapter 1.2.4 --- Current concerning problems with biomarkers
Chapter 1.3 --- MicroRNAs and bladder cancer --- p.11
Chapter 1.3.1 --- Post-trancriptional function of microRNAs
Chapter 1.3.2 --- The function of microRNAs in tumor
Chapter 1.3.3 --- Prospects of detecting microRNA in cell-free fluid in tumor
Chapter 1.4 --- MicroRNA target identification --- p.15
Chapter 1.4.1 --- Prediction of microRNA target
Chapter 1.4.2 --- Validation of microRNA target
Chapter 1.4.3 --- Validation of direct interaction between microRNA and target RNA
Chapter 1.4.4 --- Validation of direct binding of microRNA and mRNA in vivo
Chapter 1.5 --- Migration and invasion of bladder cancer --- p.19
Chapter 1.5.1 --- The biological process of migration in bladder cancer
Chapter 1.5.2 --- Epithelial to mesenchymal transition in bladder cancer
Chapter 1.6 --- Objectives of this study --- p.21
Chapter Chapter II --- MicroRNAs in urine supernatant: potential useful markers for bladder cancer screening
Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.23
Chapter 2.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.26
Chapter 2.2.1 --- Ethics Statement
Chapter 2.2.2 --- Patients and samples
Chapter 2.2.3 --- RNA extraction
Chapter 2.2.4 --- MicroRNA microarray
Chapter 2.2.5 --- Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
Chapter 2.2.6 --- Statistical methods
Chapter 2.3 --- Results --- p.31
Chapter 2.3.1 --- MicroRNA screening by microRNA microarray
Chapter 2.3.2 --- Independent validation of the ten selected microRNAs by qRT-PCR on tissue
Chapter 2.3.3 --- Verification of the six validated microRNAs in urine supernatants as tumor markers
Chapter 2.3.4 --- MiR-125b and miR-99a in urine supernatants were useful for the diagnosis of bladder cancer
Chapter 2. --- 3.5 MiR-125b and miR-99a were two highly correlated microRNAs
Chapter 2.3.6 --- Expression levels of miR-125b and miR-99a increased after tumor resection
Chapter 2.4 --- Discussion --- p.47
Chapter Chapter III: --- MiR-99a suppresses migration and invasion in bladder cancer by targeting VLDLR
Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.53
Chapter 3.2 --- Materials and methods --- p.56
Chapter 3.2.1 --- Human tissue samples and bladder cancer cell lines
Chapter 3.2.2 --- RNA extraction and Polymerase Chain Reaction
Chapter 3.2.3 --- MicroRNA and plasmid transfection
Chapter 3.2.4 --- Western Immunoblotting
Chapter 3.2.5 --- Agarose gel electrophoresis
Chapter 3.2.6 --- Luciferase assay
Chapter 3.2.7 --- MTT proliferation assay
Chapter 3.2.8 --- Apoptosis assay
Chapter 3.2.9 --- Cell cycle analysis
Chapter 3.2.10 --- Cell migration Assay
Chapter 3.1.11 --- Cell invasion assay:
Chapter 3.2.12 --- Statistical methods:
Chapter 3.3 --- Results --- p.67
Chapter 3.3.1 --- MiR-99a was significantly down-regulated in bladder cancer
Chapter 3.3.2 --- Precursor microRNA was successfully transfected into bladder cancer cell lines
Chapter 3.3.3 --- MiR-99a had little effect on cell proliferation
Chapter 3.3.4 --- MiR-99a had little effect on cell apoptosis and cell cycle
Chapter 3.3.5 --- Over-expression of miR-99a suppressed cell migration in bladder cancer
Chapter 3.3.6 --- Over-expression of miR-99a also suppressed invasion ability in bladder cancer
Chapter 3.3.7 --- Target prediction for miR-99a using 8 target prediction databases
Chapter 3.3.8 --- Protein level of VLDLR was down-regulated by miR-99a in bladder cancer
Chapter 3.3.9 --- VLDLR was a direct target of miR-99a
Chapter 3.3.10 --- VLDLR mRNA was not down-regulated correspondingly by miR-99a
Chapter 3.3.11 --- MiR-99a suppressed down-stream protein of VLDLR in Reelin pathway
Chapter 3.3.12 --- Knockdown of VLDLR also suppressed cell migration and invasion
Chapter 3.3.13 --- N-cadherin was the down-stream protein responsible for the suppression of migration and invasion in miR-99a/VLDLR pathway
Chapter 3.4 --- Discussion --- p.93
Chapter Chapter IV: --- Conclusion and prospective --- p.101
Appendix --- p.105
Reference --- p.107

RESUMO: Introdução. O cancro de bexiga é uma patologia comum que representa o 6° e o 5° cancro mais incidente em Portugal e na Itália, respetivamente. Em mais de metade dos casos ocorre reincidência durante o primeiro ano, requerendo acompanhamento clínico ao longo da vida. A instilação intravesical de Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) (uma estirpe atenuada do Mycobacterium bovis) representa uma imunoterapia eficaz no combate ao cancro de bexiga, no entanto, muitos aspetos da interação de BCG com as células tumorais bem como com as células do sistema imunitário permanecem por desvendar. As células tumorais de bexiga expressam frequentemente as formas sialiladas dos antigénios de Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF), i.e., sialil-T (sT) e sialil-Tn (sTn). Contudo ainda se desconhece o significado da sua expressão na malignidade tumoral e se afeta a eficácia da terapêutica BCG. Objetivo do estudo. Investigar o papel dos antigénios sT e sTn no fenótipo maligno de células de cancro de bexiga bem como na resposta mediada pelo sistema imunitário à terapia com BCG. Metodologia. Para tal, foram utilizadas as linhas celulares de cancro da bexiga HT1376 e MCR, geneticamente modificadas por transdução com vetores codificantes para as sialiltransferases ST3GAL1 ou ST6GALNAC1, de forma a expressar homogeneamente os antigénios sT ou sTn respetivamente. Estes modelos celulares foram estudados após confronto com BCG. O nível de BCG internalizado foi avaliado por citometria de fluxo. O perfil global de expressão genética dos modelos celulares antes e após incubação com BCG foi analisado pela tecnologia de microarray. O perfil de citocinas secretadas pelos modelos celulares após incubação com BCG, bem como de macrófagos estimulados pelo secretoma de células de cancro de bexiga que por sua vez foram estimuladas previamente por BCG, foi estudado pelo sistema multiplex de “imuno-esferas”. Resultados. A análise do transcritoma dos modelos celulares revelou que grupos de genes envolvidos em funções específicas foram modulados em paralelo nos dois modelos celulares, após transdução, independentemente da sialiltransferase expressa. Ou seja, em células que expressavam a sialiltransferase ST3GAL1 ou ST6GALNAC1, os genes envolvidos na regulação da segregação cromossómica e na reparação do DNA foram consistentemente regulados negativamente. Genes descritos na literatura como marcadores para o cancro de bexiga foram também modulados. A incubação com BCG resultou numa tendência ao aumento da expressão de genes relevantes na preservação e estabilidade genómica e menor malignidade, no entanto, apenas em células que expressavam sT ou sTn. Entre as dez citocinas testadas, apenas a IL-6 e IL-8 foram expressas pelas linhas celulares de cancro da bexiga, com indução destas após estimulação com BCG, e principalmente em células que expressavam ST3GAL1 ou ST6GALNAC1. Em macrófagos, citocinas inflamatórias, tais como IL-1β, IL-6 e TNFα, e a citocina anti-inflamatória IL-10, foram induzidas apenas pelo secretoma de células de cancro da bexiga confrontadas com BCG, com maior relevância quando estas expressavam ST3GAL1 ou ST6GALNAC1, prevendo a estimulação de macrófagos semelhantes aos de tipo M1 e uma melhor resposta à terapia com BCG. Conclusões. O efeito geral da expressão destas sialiltransferases e dos produtos enzimáticos sT ou sTn nas células de cancro de bexiga conduz a um fenótipo de maior malignidade. Contudo, a maior avidez de estas na produção de citocinas inflamatórias após confronto com BCG, bem como a maior capacidade de estimulação de macrófagos, predirá uma resposta à terapia com BCG mais eficaz em tumores que expressem os antigénios de TF sialilados. Tais conclusões são totalmente concordantes com os nossos mais recentes dados clínicos obtidos em colaboração, que mostram que em doentes com cancro de bexiga que expressam sTn respondem melhor a terapia BCG. ----------ABSTRACT: Background. Bladder cancer is a common malignancy representing the 6th and the 5th most incident cancer in Portugal and in Italy, respectively. More than half of the cases relapse within one year, requiring though a lifelong follow-up. Intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) (an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis) represents an effective immunotherapy of bladder cancer, although many aspects of the interaction of BCG with cancer cells and host immune cells remain obscure. Bladder cancer cells often express the sialylated forms of the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF), i.e., sialil-T (sT) e sialil-Tn (sTn). However, it’s still unknown the sense of such expression in tumour malignancy and in the BCG therapy efficacy. Aim of the study. To investigate the role of the sT and sTn antigens on the malignant phenotype of bladder cancer cells and the immune mediated response to BCG therapy. Experimental. We have utilized populations of the bladder cancer cell lines HT1376 and MCR, genetically modified by transduction with the sialyltransferases ST3GAL1 or ST6GALNAC1 to express homogeneously sT or sTn antigens. The level of BCG internalized was assessed by flow cytometry. The whole gene expression profile of BCG-challenged or unchallenged bladder cancer cell lines was studied by microarray technology. The profile of cytokines secreted by BCG-challenged bladder cancer cells and that of macrophages challenged by the secretome of BCG-challenged bladder cancer cells was studied by multiplex immune-beads assay. Results. Transcriptome analysis of the sialyltransferase-transduced cells revealed that groups of genes involved in specific functions were regulated in parallel in the two cell lines, regardless the sialyltransferase expressed. Namely, in sialyltransferase-expressing cells, genes involved in the proper chromosomal segregation and in the DNA repair were consistently down-regulated, while genes reported in literature as markers for bladder cancer were modulated. BCG-challenging induced a tendency to up-regulation of the genes preserving genomic stability and reducing malignancy, but only in cells expressing either sT or sTn. Among the ten cytokines tested, only IL-6 and IL-8 were expressed by bladder cancer cell lines and up-regulated by BCG-challenging, mainly in sialyltransferases-expressing cells. In macrophages, inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα, and the antinflammatory IL-10 were induced only by the secretome of BCG-challenged bladder cancer cells, particularly when expressing either sialyltransferase, predicting the stimulation of M1-like macrophages and a better response to BCG therapy. Conclusions. The general effect of the expression of the two sialyltransferases and their products in the bladder cancer cells is toward a more malignant phenotype. However, the stronger ability of sialyltransferase expressing cells to produce inflammatory cytokines upon BCG-challenging and to stimulate macrophages predicts a more effective response to BCG in tumours expressing the sialylated TF antigens. This is fully consistent with our recent clinical data obtained in collaboration, showing that patients with bladder cancer expressing sTn respond better to BCG therapy.

Objectives: To establish a mouse orthotopic bladder cancer model with consistent tumor-take rate. This orthotopic model was subsequently used to evaluate small animal imaging techniques and investigate new therapeutic agents for bladder cancer treatment.
Materials and Methods: Different orthotopic implantation techniques have been tested. MBT-2 cells and syngeneic C3H/He mice were used in all experiments. Chemical bladder pre-treatment with different agents (saline, hydrochloric acid, trypsin and poly-L-lysine) and different concentration of instilled tumor cells (1 x 10⁶ or 2 x 10⁶) were investigated. In the second part of the experiment, trans-abdominal micro-ultrasound imaging (MUI) technique was investigated and validated. Bladder tumor growths were monitored with longitudinal measurement. Mice were killed at every MUI session. Bladder tumor volumes were measured and correlated with gross stereomicroscopy. Using the optimized orthotopic bladder cancer model, targeted contrast enhanced micro-ultrasound imaging has been investigated. VEGFR2 targeted contrast agent was prepared and injected intravenously before imaging sessions. The intra-tumoral perfusion, VEGFR2 expression and blood volume in real time were quantified. Contrast enhanced MUI was performed on Days 14 and 21. The feasibility of targeted contrast enhanced micro-ultrasound imaging was confirmed. After the establishment of orthotopic model and in vivo molecular imaging techniques, this robust platform was used for investigating new treatment agent in localized bladder cancer. Tumor-bearing mice were randomized into control and sunitinibtreated (40 mg/kg) groups. Tumor volume, intra-tumoral perfusion, and in vivo VEGFR2 expression were measured using a targeted contrast-enhanced micro-ultrasound imaging system. The effects of sunitinib malate on angiogenesis and cellular proliferation were measured by CD31 and Ki-67 immunohistochemistry. The clinical outcomes including total bladder weight, tumor stage, and survival were evaluated.
Results: A consistent tumor take-rate of over 90% was achieved by using poly-L-lysine pretreatment with 2 x 10⁶ MBT-2 cells in all of the experiments. MUI identified all tumors that were present on final histology. Measurements of tumor size by MUI and gross microscopy had a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.97). Measurements of intra-tumoral perfusion and in vivo VEGFR2 expression were also proved to be feasible. After the technical refinement and modification, complete measurements could be performed in all mice (n = 10) at 2 consecutive imaging sessions. No adverse effects occurred due to anesthesia or the ultrasound contrast agent. This is the first report of applying targeted contrast enhanced MUI in orthotopic bladder cancer model. Finally, sunitinib was found to have significant tumor growth inhibition in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. In the orthotopic model, tumors in sunitinib-treated mice had reduced tumor volume and stage, lower proliferation index and micro-vessel density. Sunitinib prolonged survival in tumor-bearing mice as compared to control group.
Conclusions: The development of reliable orthotopic animal models assists in the discovery of novel therapeutic agents. The establishment in the methods of implantation with improved tumor-take rate and the advances in imaging technology form the important foundation of basic research in bladder cancer. Trans-abdominal MUI is proven to be a valuable tool for translational studies involving orthotopic mouse bladder cancer models. Furthermore, the first report of the application of targeted contrast enhanced MUI in deep-seated tumor in bladder has been published. It enables investigators to monitor tumor angiogenesis and vascular changes after treatment. It will be useful for direct, noninvasive, in vivo evaluation of anti-angiogenesis therapeutic agents. The preclinical study has demonstrated the activities of a new class of targeted therapy against localized bladder cancer in an orthotopic mouse model. Sunitinib inhibits tumor growth and thus decreases the tumor burden and prolongs survival compared with placebo. These results provide a rationale for future clinical trials using VEGFR-targeted treatments of localized bladder cancer in the neo-adjuvant and adjuvant settings.
Chan, Shu Yin Eddie.
Thesis (M.D) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-212).

Guang Fu Chen.
"May 2002."
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 194-221).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Radiotherapy is a major treatment modality used to treat muscle-invasive bladder cancer, with patient outcomes similar to surgery. However, radioresistance is a significant factor in treatment failure. Cell-free extracts of muscle-invasive bladder tumors are defective in nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ), and this phenotype may be used clinically by combining radiotherapy with a radiosensitizing drug that targets homologous recombination, thereby sparing normal tissues with intact NHEJ. The response of the homologous recombination protein RAD51 to radiation is inhibited by the small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. Stable RT112 bladder cancer Ku knockdown (Ku80KD) cells were generated using short hairpin RNA technology to mimic the invasive tumor phenotype and also RAD51 knockdown (RAD51KD) cells to show imatinib's pathway selectivity. Ku80KD, RAD51KD, nonsilencing vector control, and parental RT112 cells were treated with radiation in combination with either imatinib or lapatinib, which inhibits NHEJ and cell survival assessed by clonogenic assay. Drug doses were chosen at approximately IC40 and IC10 (nontoxic) levels. Imatinib radiosensitized Ku80KD cells to a greater extent than RAD51KD or RT112 cells. In contrast, lapatinib radiosensitized RAD51KD and RT112 cells but not Ku80KD cells. Taken together, our findings suggest a new application for imatinib in concurrent use with radiotherapy to treat muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Cancer Res; 73(5); 1611-20. (c)2012 AACR.

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) play key roles in proliferation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis. Many urothelial carcinomas contain activating point mutations or increased expression of FGFR3. However, little is known about the role of other FGFRs. We examined FGFR expression in telomerase-immortalized normal human urothelial cells, urothelial carcinoma cell lines, and tumor samples and showed that FGFR1 expression is increased in a high proportion of cell lines and tumors independent of stage and grade. To determine the role of FGFR1 in low-stage bladder cancer, we overexpressed FGFR1 in telomerase-immortalized normal human urothelial cells and examined changes in proliferation and cell survival in response to FGF2. FGFR1 stimulation increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanistic basis for these alterations, we examined the signaling cascades activated by FGFR1. FRS2alpha and PLCgamma were activated in response to FGF2, leading to activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. The level of mitogen-activated protein kinase activation correlated with the level of cyclin D1, MCL1, and phospho-BAD, which also correlated with FGFR-induced proliferation and survival. Knockdown of FGFR1 in urothelial carcinoma cell lines revealed differential FGFR1 dependence. JMSU1 cells were dependent on FGFR1 expression for survival but three other cell lines were not. Two cell lines (JMSU1 and UMUC3) were dependent on FGFR1 for growth in soft agar. Only one of the cell lines tested (UMUC3) was frankly tumorigenic; here, FGFR1 knockdown inhibited tumor growth. Our results indicate that FGFR1 has significant effects on urothelial cell phenotype and may represent a useful therapeutic target in some cases of urothelial carcinoma.

Trabalho Final do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina apresentado à Faculdade de Medicina
Introdução: Após vários anos, sem avanços na abordagem de doentes com Cancro da Bexiga (BC) localmente avançado ou metastizado, especialmente assente na quimioterapia à base de platino, a escassez de resultados e o seu impacto reduzido na sobrevivência e no prognóstico destes doentes têm motivado a crescente investigação nesta área. Objetivo: Reconhecer quais as alternativas farmacológicas existentes atualmente em imunoterapia, para o tratamento do BC localmente avançado ou metastizado, suas particularidades e critérios de inclusão terapêuticos. Determinar o impacto das diferentes opções terapêuticas em imunoterapia, no prognóstico e na sobrevivência global dos doentes com BC localmente avançado ou metastizado. Destacar ensaios clínicos com novos agentes de imunoterapia, que possam ser utilizados nestes doentes, em uso único ou em associação terapêutica.Métodos: A pesquisa foi realizada com recurso à PubMed e b-ON, restringindo-se a artigos de Língua Inglesa, publicados entre 2012 e 2017. Foram também consultadas as publicações mais recentes da APU, AUA e EAU.Resultados: Comportando o BC uma das taxas mais significativas de mutação tumoral e assumindo a complexidade da interação entre as células tumorais e o sistema imunitário, a imunoterapia surge com elevado potencial terapêutico. O impacto atribuído aos inibidores da PD-1, do PD-L1 e do CTLA-4, tem contribuído para a mudança de paradigma inerente às atuais linhas de orientação terapêuticas no BC. Para além da emergência de novas terapias imunes, como a vacinação anti-tumoral ou as proteínas de fusão, múltiplas abordagens em imunoterapia com agente único ou em associação estão atualmente a ser alvo de atenção no BC. A caracterização do microambiente tumoral e a identificação de biomarcadores com potencial valor preditivo contribuem, não só para uma melhor compreensão da biologia tumoral, como para a seleção de doentes com maior potencial de resposta. Como fatores com potencial valor preditivo, surgem a expressão de PD-L1 pelo tumor, a taxa de mutação tumoral, a carga de neoantigénios e a expressão de IFN- γ.Conclusão: Embora as opções terapêuticas em imunoterapia, pareçam cada vez mais corresponder a uma alternativa de tratamento viável no BC, com resultados promissores, ainda há metas consideráveis a atingir, para o estabelecimento de sequencias terapêuticas ótimas, com considerável impacto ao nível da sobrevivência global destes doentes e da sobrevivência livre de progressão da doença.
Introduction: After several years, without advances in the approach of patients with locally advanced or metastatic Bladder Cancer (BC), especially based on platinum-based chemotherapy, the scarcity of results and their reduced impact on the survival and prognosis of these patients have motivated the growing investigation in this area.Objective: To recognize the current pharmacological alternatives in immunotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic BC, its particularities and therapeutic inclusion criteria. To determine the impact of different therapeutic options on immunotherapy, prognosis and overall survival of patients with locally advanced or metastatic BC. Highlight clinical trials with new immunotherapy agents that can be used in these patients, in single use or in combination therapy.Methods: The study was carried out using PubMed and b-ON, restricted to English language articles published between 2012 and 2017. The most recent publications of the APU, AUA and UAE were also consulted.Results: With BC being one of the most significant tumor mutation rates and assuming the complexity of the interaction between tumor cells and the immune system, immunotherapy appears to have a high therapeutic potential. The impact attributed to PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors has contributed to the paradigm shift inherent in the current therapeutic guidelines in BC. In addition to the emergence of new immune therapies, such as anti-tumor vaccination or fusion proteins, multiple approaches in single-agent or combination immunotherapy are currently being targeted for BC. The characterization of the tumor microenvironment and the identification of biomarkers with potential predictive value contribute not only to a better understanding of tumor biology, but also to the selection of patients with greater potential for response. As factors with potential predictive value, the expression of PD-L1 by the tumor, the tumor mutation rate, the neoantigen load and the expression of IFN-γ arise.Conclusion: Although therapeutic options in immunotherapy seem increasingly to correspond to a viable treatment alternative in BC, with promising results, there are still considerable targets to be reached for the establishment of optimal therapeutic sequences, with considerable impact on overall survival of these patients and disease-free survival.

No
We identify cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) as a target for tumor-selective drug development in bladder cancer and describe the characterization of ICT2700, designed to be metabolized from a prodrug to a potent cytotoxin selectively by CYP1A1. Elevated CYP1A1 expression was shown in human bladder cancer relative to normal human tissues. RT112 bladder cancer cells, endogenously expressing CYP1A1, were selectively chemosensitive to ICT2700, whereas EJ138 bladder cells that do not express CYP1A1 were significantly less responsive. Introduction of CYP1A1 into EJ138 cells resulted in 75-fold increased chemosensitivity to ICT2700 relative to wild-type EJ138. Negligible chemosensitivity was observed in ICT2700 in EJ138 cells expressing CYP1A2 or with exposure of EJ138 cells to CYP1B1- or CYP3A4-generated metabolites of ICT2700. Chemosensitivity to ICT2700 was also negated in EJ138-CYP1A1 cells by the CYP1 inhibitor alpha-naphthoflavone. Furthermore, ICT2700 did not induce expression of the AhR-regulated CYP1 family, indicating that constitutive CYP1A1 expression is sufficient for activation of ICT2700. Consistent with the selective activity by CYP1A1 was a time and concentration-dependent increase in gamma-H2AX protein expression, indicative of DNA damage, associated with the activation of ICT2700 in RT112 but not EJ138 cells. In mice-bearing CYP1A1-positive and negative isogenic tumors, ICT2700 administration resulted in an antitumor response only in the CYP1A1-expressing tumor model. This antitumor response was associated with detection of the CYP1A1-activated metabolite in tumors but not in the liver. Our findings support the further development of ICT2700 as a tumor-selective treatment for human bladder cancers.

BACKGROUND: Activating mutations of FGFR3 are frequently identified in superficial urothelial carcinoma (UC) and increased expression of FGFR1 and FGFR3 are common in both superficial and invasive UC. METHODS: The effects of inhibition of receptor activity by three small molecule inhibitors (PD173074, TKI-258 and SU5402) were investigated in a panel of bladder tumour cell lines with known FGFR expression levels and FGFR3 mutation status. RESULTS: All inhibitors prevented activation of FGFR3, and inhibited downstream MAPK pathway signalling. Response was related to FGFR3 and/or FGFR1 expression levels. Cell lines with the highest levels of FGFR expression showed the greatest response and little or no effect was measured in normal human urothelial cells or in UC cell lines with activating RAS gene mutations. In sensitive cell lines, the drugs induced cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. IC(50) values for PD173074 and TKI-258 were in the nanomolar concentration range compared with micromolar concentrations for SU5402. PD173074 showed the greatest effects in vitro and in vivo significantly delayed the growth of subcutaneous bladder tumour xenografts. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that inhibition of FGFR1 and wild-type or mutant FGFR3 may represent a useful therapeutic approach in patients with both non-muscle invasive and muscle invasive UC.