Serum levels of growth factors in patients with urinary bladder cancer

Background: Altered signalling of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been shown to play important role in tumor development and progression in various cancers. Their serum levels may be reliable indicator for diagnosis and progression of cancer. Objective: To examine the serum levels of soluble HER-2/neu (sHER-2/neu), IGF1 and EGF in patients with urinary bladder cancer (UBC). Material and methods: Serum levels of sHER-2/neu, IGF1 and EGF were measured by enzyme-linked immune assay in newly diagnosed, untreated patients with UBC. Results: In the patient group, sHER-2/neu level was found to be increased, IGF1 level was found to be decreased in comparison to those in the control group. Although serum level of sHER-2/neu was lower in the patients with Ta stage than that in the patients with T1 and T2 stages, this difference was not at a statistically significant level. Conclusion: Serum level of sHER-2/neu is increased in patients with UBC. Despite the lack of a significant association between sHER-2/neu level and pathological pT stage, sHER-2/neu may be a promising marker for UBC but IGF-1 and EGF have not such a potential.