TPPP gene alterations and its role in bladder cancer



'''Purpose:'''  We studied the gene copy number alteration of ''TPPP''  (Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein) in bladder cancer using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) based assay and correlated its the result with clinical parameters.      

'''Materials and Methods:'''  Samples and clinical data from patients with bladder cancer and clinical data were collected. ''TPPP''  gene was evaluated by FISH in 52 patients. The probe targeting the gene ''TPPP''  were established for FISH experiment. At least 300 non-overlapping cells in each case were analyzed by two observers.      

'''Results:'''  We could see different genetic copy number alterations of ''TPPP''  in studied sample. Further analysis with the clinical data, the ''TPPP''  gene alteration was strongly correlated with tumor grade, in which the amplification of ''TPPP''  gene was significantly correlated with high-grade tumor (''p''  < 0.001). Besides, the amplification of ''TPPP''  gene was positively correlated with tumor stage (''p''  < 0.05).      

'''Conclusion:'''  The genetic alterations of ''TPPP''  gene were much higher in high-stage and -grade bladder cancer. This result suggests that ''TPPP''  may play a role in bladder cancer pathogenesis, and ''TPPP''  gene alteration may serve as a biomarker for bladder cancer detection.