Expression and Prognostic Significance of Bcl-2 and Bax in The Progression and Clinical Outcome of Transitional Bladder Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mRNA expression ratio of Bcl-2/Bax both in normal and tumoral bladder tissues of patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of bladder and investigate potential correlation between this expression ratio and clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, we used real time-PCR to investigate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax both in normal and tumoral bladder tissues. The Bcl-2/ Bax expression ratio was determined in tumoral bladder tissues of patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (n=40) and correlation between expression ratios and the emergence of early relapses in a follow-up of 14-30 months was examined. RESULTS: Relapse-free time in 14/31 patients (45.16%) with Bcl-2/Bax>1 was shorter than 9 months (range of 2-9 months) with 5.7 months average median while 17/31 patients (54.84%) with Bcl-2/Bax<1 are currently relapse-free (14-30 months). Bcl-2 and Bax expression levels were not solely correlated with clinical outcome and progression of carcinogenesis. CONCLUSION: The mRNA expression ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in tumoral bladder tissues may serve as a significant prognostic indicator in predicting the clinical outcome in low grade non-invasive bladder cancer.