Detection of PTEN expression in bladder cancer with western-blot analysis

ABSTRACT In this study, 3 1 bladder carcinomas and control samples were analyzed with Western-blotting in terms of the level of PTEN i expression. Tumor suppressor PTEN (Phosphatase and Tensin homologue deleted on chromosome ten) plays an important role in the deterrence of tumorigenesis through its action on phosphatidylinositol 3'- kinase signaling pathway. Thus, the loss of PTEN activity directly contributes to the cellular transformation and neoplastic growth. For an instance, the deletion of PTEN has been observed in many human cancers including cancers of bladder, prostate, liver, and that of thyroid glands in addition to gastrointestinal cancers. Recent studies analyzing the level of PTEN expression were only performed with cell lines. In this study, 31 primary tumors obtained from patients with bladder carcinomas were analyzed with Western-blot in terms of the level of PTEN expression. Decrease in PTEN expression was detected in 4 patients with bladder carcinomas compared to those obtained from the healthy individuals. Importance of the failure of PTEN synthesis in the manifestation of bladder carcinomas was discussed in detail and compared to what is known in literature. Key words: Bladder cancer, PTEN, Western-blot