Apoptin Induces Apoptosis in Human Bladder Cancer EJ and BIU-87 Cells

Objective: To investigate whether apoptin is a apoptosis-inducing protein with a potential for bladder cancer therapy. Methods: We constructed a PCDNA3/Apoptin eukaryotic expression vector, and transfected this vector into bladder cancer cell lines BIU-87 and EJ, then observed the results by RT-PCR, transmission electron microscopy, MTT assay and the flow cytometry (TUNEL method). Results: PCDNA3/Apoptin successfully induced a high level apoptosis in both bladder cancer cell lines, compared with the controls (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Apoptin can induce high level apoptosis in human bladder cancer EJ and BIU-87 cells, which suggests a potential for human bladder cancer therapy.