Effect of PTEN Gene Mutations and Environmental Risk Factors on the Progression and Prognosis of Bladder Cancer

BACKGROUND Bladder cancer is the most frequent genitourinary malignancy in Iran. Environmental and genetic factors are the two factors linked with bladder cancer expansion. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of PTEN gene and environmental risk factors on the progression and prognosis of bladder cancer. METHODS We evaluated 55 tumor specimens and 66 bladder mucosa samples of non-cancerous patients between 2011 and 2013. All samples were analyzed for PTEN mutations using PCR and direct DNA sequencing methods. Demographic data collected, were analyzed using SPSS version 19.0 software and a P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Of the 55 patients examined, tumor stage was T1, T2 (T2a, T2b) in 34 (61.8%) and 21 (38.2%) and tumor grade was high, low in 34 (61.8%) and 21 (38.2%), respectively. No mutations in the PTEN gene were found in patients with bladder cancer and control. Among the risk factors studied, only the occupation and history of urinary tract stones, were significantly associated with bladder cancer (P value<0.05). However, other risk factors did not show such a relationship. CONCLUSION No mutation was found in PTEN gene of patients with bladder cancer. Therefore, mutations in this gene cannot predict the prognosis and progression of urothelial bladder cancer. On the other hand, significant rela-tionship was found between occupation and urinary stones with bladder cancer. This communication reflects the im-pact of these factors on the risk of bladder cancer.