Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes and deregulation of the c-myc gene in urothelial cancer cell lines

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Abstract
Recent investigations have demonstrated p53 and Rb alterations in a subset of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Further genetic changes during tumor progression include overexpression of the c-myc gene in a significant number of mainly invasive bladder tumors. To study the possible interactions between these genes in TCC, urothelial cancer cell lines were chosen as an in vitro model. Expression and mutation of p53 was studied in 15 bladder cancer cell lines by immunocytochemistry, Western blot, polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and direct sequencing of double stranded PCR products of exons 4, 5, 7 and 8 of genomic DNA. C-myc expression and gene structure were studied using Northern and Southern blot techniques. Rb protein expression was analyzed by Western blot. Twelve of 15 cell lines showed either p53 mutations or abnormal protein expression. Consistent with previous studies, five cell lines did not express Rb protein. None of the cell lines studied retained both tumor suppressor genes in a functional form. The c-myc gene appeared to be intact in all cell lines and copy numbers were close to normal. Northern analysis demonstrated that all cell lines expressed c-myc mRNA but evidence for altered regulation was found in at least two cell lines. Our data suggest that amplification or translocation are not the underlying mechanism for c-myc overexpression in urothelial tumors. No correlation between loss of Rb protein and c-myc expression was observed. The results presented here for the cell lines match well those obtained in vivo. Thus, these cell lines may provide a suitable model for further analysis of molecular alterations in urothelial cancer.