Detection of deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 and runt-related transcription factor 3 gene expressions in bladder carcinoma

Bladder cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, where the majority of tumors are transitional cell carcinoma. Deleted in malignant brain tumors 1 (DMBT1) gene is located at chromosome 10q25.3-q26.1. DMBT1 gene expression has yet to be investigated in patients with bladder cancer. Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a candidate tumor suppressor gene which is localized on the chromosome 1p36. RUNX3 gene expression in bladder carcinogenesis is particularly unknown. We aimed to evaluate DMBT1 and RUNX3 gene expression profiles in bladder cancer and how their expressions could be related to carcinogenesis in the bladder and their correlation with clinicopathological parameters. Fifty-six paraffin embedded specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder were used. Total RNA was extracted from bladder specimens and cDNA was synthesized. The quantification of DMBT1 and RUNX3 mRNAs were succeeded according to the manufacturers' instructions by using RT-PCR. DMBT1 and RUNX3 gene expressions were identified in 100% of bladder carcinoma samples. No significant association was found in these genes expression levels when compared to sex and age. RUNX3 gene expression was decreased non-significantly in high-grade tumors. When DMBT1 gene expression was compared to tumor grades, a significant decrease was detected between grade I and III (P = 0.028). Disruption of expression in relation to tumor suppressors like DMBT1 and RUNX3 genes was associated with bladder cancer. Furthermore, detailed studies including these genes should be performed in protein levels and used more patient specimens in a large scale study.