[Expression of survivin mRNA in urine exfoliated cells of patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma detected by real-time PCR].

Background and objective: Bladder cancer is the most malignant cancer of the urinary system. However a noninvasive and sensitive method of the early diagnosis for bladder cancer has not been developed. This study was to explore the expression of survivin mRNA in urine exfoliated cells of preoperative and postoperative patients with bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC), and to analyze its value in early diagnosis and postoperative monitoring.

Methods: Urine of 30 patients with initially diagnosed BTCC was collected before operation and one week, one month, six months and 15 months after operation. Urine of 10 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with cystitis was used as control. Expression of survivin mRNA in urine exfoliated cells was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR).

Results: The relative copy number of survivin mRNA in the patients was (96.01+/-42.33) before operation, which was significantly higher than that of healthy volunteers and cystitis patients (P <0.05). The level of survivin mRNA was apparently declined one week after operation (25.30+/-1.51) compared with its preoperative level (P <0.05); and the level became as low as the control group after one month (13.20+/-1.49) and six months (13.90+/-1.36) (P>0.05). Patients were followed up for 15 months, and three patients recurred, whose survivin mRNA level (97.83+/-27.47) was significantly higher than that at six months after operation (P <0.05).

Conclusion: Detecting survivin mRNA in urine exfoliated cells is sensitive for the diagnosis of BTCC. Detection survivin mRNA after operation can monitor recurrence.