HIF-1, GLUT1, endoglin, and BIRC5 expression in urine samples obtained from patients with bladder malignancies – after photodynamic diagnosis (PDD)

INTRODUCTION: Bladder cancer (BC) is a serious medical problem. The high rate of recurrence and progression demands the development of new methods, such as genetic markers, which allow diagnosis and patient follow-up. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare expression of HIF-1, GLUT1, endoglin, and BRIC5 in patients without and those with BC. The second group was divided into sub-groups: those without a history of PDD (photodynamic diagnosis) in the diagnostic process and those after PDD. METHODS: Patients with BC were diagnosed using the PDD method using hexaminolevulinate (Hexvix(®)). The expressions of HIF-1, GLUT1, endoglin, and BRIC5 genes were established in urine specimens by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The expressions of all tested genes were higher in the group of patients with BC than in the group without BC. In the group after PDD, a statistically significant overexpression of HIF-1 was observed. In this group, changes were not observed in cases of the other three tested genes. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between the group with PDD and the group without it can be connected with the direct influence of PDD on malignant tissue, which can cause overexpression of HIF-1 only. This is, however, only a hypothesis and needs further study.