Purpose: We validated the use of expression sequence tags (ESTs) as an effective method of screening for DNA segments that could predict urothelial cell carcinoma and for identifying ESTs with such predictive value.
Patients and methods: From 2004 to 2009, eleven patients were enrolled in this study: six with high-grade bladder carcinoma and five with low-grade bladder carcinoma. ESTs were used to screen for differential gene expression in a high-grade cell line (MGH-U1) and in a premalignant cell line (MGH-U4). Immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were used to validate the degree of EST expression and the prognostic value of ESTs.
Results: Apoferritin H subunit (FTH1 protein) exhibited increased expression in high-grade bladder carcinoma compared with that seen in low-grade carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction both supported the higher expression of FTH1 in high-grade urothelial carcinoma.
Conclusion: ESTs are useful for detecting the FTH1 protein, which predicts the prognosis of patients with bladder carcinoma.
Keywords: FTH1; expression sequence tag; transitional cell carcinoma.