In vitro tumoral progression of human bladder carcinoma:: Role for TGFβ

Objective: Investigating whether extracellular factors are possible actors in tumoral progression in bladder carcinoma. Methods: RT112/G2 bladder tumour cells were grown in presence of TGF beta and analysed by immunological and cDNA microarray techniques. Results: TGF beta inhibited cell proliferation, reduced TNF alpha- and IFN gamma-induced apoptosis by decreasing TNF alpha-RI and IFN gamma-R antigen expression. It also inhibited cleaved caspase 8 and 9 expression, decreased E-cadherin, and increased Bclx(L) and cyclooxygenase-2 expression. The cDNA microarray approach showed that TGF beta up-regulated the expression of genes with defined roles in tumoral progression sometimes associated with poor outcome in bladder cancer. Conclusion: These results suggest that a part of the bladder tumoral progression process may be related to the action of exogenous TGF beta confirming the possible role for the microenvironment. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.