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.