Background/aim: Alterations of global histone modification levels have been identified in various tumor entities, including bladder cancer (BCA). Our study was designed to investigate the value of global histone acetylation levels as diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for BCA patients.
Materials and methods: A tissue microarray with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues (271 BCA and 29 normal urothelial samples) was used to determine global histone acetylation levels (histone H3 acetylation (H3Ac); histone H3 lysine 18 acetylation (H3K18Ac); histone H4 acetylation (H4Ac)).
Results: Global H3Ac levels were decreased in BCA patients, whereas H3K18Ac and H4Ac levels were similar in both groups. All studied histone acetylation markers were lower in muscle-invasive BCA compared to non-muscle invasive BCA and normal urothelial tissue, thereby indicating a possible prognostic relevance.
Conclusion: Global histone acetylation levels undergo quantitative alterations during bladder cancer progression and could be helpful to identify patients at risk for early cancer recurrence.
Keywords: Bladder cancer; epigenetics; histone acetylation; immunohistochemistry.
Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.