The role of growth and transcription factors in evaluating the effectiveness of neoadyuvantnoy chemotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer

The study was undertaken to analyse molecular markers associated with clinical response to preoperative chemotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between the expression of transcription factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), activity of proteasomes and calpaines in tumors and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Material and methods. The study included 50 patients with histologically verified transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder T2a-3bN0M0 (G2-G3). The levels of transcription and growth factors were determined by an immunoenzymatic assay. Proteasome activity was measured using the fluorometric method. Results. Patients who achieved partial tumor regression demonstrated higher levels of VEGF and transcription factors (NF-κB and HIF-1), but lower levels of the 26S proteasome compared to those observed in patients with stable disease. Conclusion. Additional molecular markers that can be considered as predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for bladder cancer were identified.