Detection of urothelial carcinoma, upper tract urothelial carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, and urothelial carcinoma with gross hematuria using selected urine-DNA methylation biomarkers: A prospective, single-center study

Development and Validation of the UriMee Model: A Methylation-based Diagnostic Tool for Early Diagnosis of Urothelial Carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a common malignancy that imposes a significant health care burden. Current diagnostic methods are limited by their invasiveness and low sensitivity, particularly for detecting low-grade tumors. Noninvasive, accurate, and reliable diagnostic tests for an early diagnosis of UC are urgently needed.

METHODS

UC-specific DNA methylation biomarkers were identified by combining public datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus with a cohort from Renji Hospital (n = 50). Using the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression, we developed a diagnostic model, termed the UriMee model, by selecting key biomarkers from a model cohort (n = 322) and subsequently validating it in an independent cohort (n = 131). The diagnostic performance of the assay was evaluated and compared with that of urine cytology.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS

At 30% threshold probability, the UriMee model demonstrated high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (92%) in distinguishing UC cases, with particularly strong performance in early-stage tumors (83% sensitivity for Ta, 93% for T1, and 100% for Tis). It significantly outperformed urine cytology, offering greater sensitivity (90% vs 25%, p < 0.001) while maintaining comparable specificity. Additionally, the model was highly effective in identifying upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), achieving sensitivity of 96%. The study's limitations include the necessity for larger multicenter studies and long-term follow-up to validate the findings and assess the test's effectiveness across diverse populations, as well as its utility in monitoring disease progression and recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The UriMee test demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, particularly in detecting early-stage tumors and UTUC, significantly outperforming traditional methods.

Analysis the diagnostic performance of H4C6/SOX1-OT gene methylation in bladder cancer based on urine sample

Bladder cancer (BCa) is the second most common urological malignancy, but the techniques used today to detect and monitor BCa are frequently invasive and/or have inadequate sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it is imperative to create a noninvasive test that is both sensitive and accurate for diagnosing BCa. This research introduces and validates the diagnostic performance of H4C6/SOX1-OT gene methylation in the diagnosis of BCa based on urine samples by designing two parts of studies: the case-control study and the prospective validation study. In the case-control study, the methylation test of H4C6/SOX1-OT achieved a sensitivity/specificity/positive predictive value (PPV)/negative predictive value (NPV) of 87.9%(95%CI, 79.4%-93.3%)/90.4%(95%CI, 80.7%-95.7%)/92.6%(95%CI, 84.8%-96.7%)/ 84.6%(95%CI, 74.3%-91.5%) (kappa value 77.6%). The sensitivities for low grade, high grade, Ta-T1, and T2-T4 were 85% (17/20), 88.6% (70/79), 85.4% (41/48) and 92.6% (25/27). Statistical analysis showed the diagnostic sensitivity of test was not affected by sex, age, tumor grade or tumor stage (P > 0.05). In the prospective validation study, the H4C6/SOX1-OT methylation test yielded an overall sensitivity/specificity/PPV/NPV of 84.8%(95%CI, 67.3%-94.3%)/90.0%(95%CI, 75.4%-96.7%)/87.5% (95%CI, 70.1%-95.9%)/84.6% (95%CI, 73.0%-95.4%) (kappa value 75.0%), indicating 38.4% of spared cystoscopy. These findings highlight the potential of the H4C6/SOX1-OT methylation in urine DNA as a promising molecular diagnostic tool for detecting BCa, especially for early-stage tumors, which may reduce the need for cystoscopy.

Growth differentiation factor 15 is a glucose-downregulated gene acting as the cross talk between stroma and cancer cells of the human bladder

Hyperglycemia and hyperglycosuria, two primary characteristics of diabetes mellitus, may increase the risk of cancer initiation, particularly for bladder cancer. The effectiveness of metformin, a common antidiabetic agent, is determined by its ability to induce growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15). However, the mechanism of the GDF15 in relation to glucose, which influences the tumor microenvironment in the human bladder, is not fully understood. This study explores the potential roles of GDF15 in response to glucose in the human bladder. High glucose treatment (30 mM) enhanced phosphorylation of AKT at S473 and AMP-activated protein kinase α1/2 (AMPKα1/2) at S485 to block the counteracting effect of metformin on the AMPK activity in bladder cancer and stroma [human bladder stromal fibroblast (HBdSF) and human bladder smooth muscle cell (HBdSMC)] cells compared with normal glucose treatment (5 mM). Metformin modulated the expressions of GDF15, NDRG1, Maspin, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers to attenuate cell proliferation and invasion of bladder cancer cells. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), like metformin, behaves as an inducer of AMPK activity to stimulate GDF15 expression. Knockdown of GDF15 blocked the downregulation of CAPE on the contraction of HBdSMCs. Both CAPE-induced GDF15 expression and the supernatant from bladder cancer cells with overexpressing GDF15 impeded the HBdSF and HBdSMC migration, suggesting that CAPE-upregulated GDF15 blocked the cell migration. These findings reveal that high glucose treatment inhibits the counteracting effects of either metformin or CAPE on the AMPK activity and GDF15 is downregulated by glucose and induced by metformin and CAPE in both stroma and cancer cells. Furthermore, GDF15 is an antitumor gene facilitating communication between stroma and cancer cells in the human bladder.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study investigates the counteraction of either CAPE or metformin with the AMPK activity increasing GDF15 expression in human bladder cells. The findings are the first study to indicate the secretion of GDF15 from cancer and stroma cells via autocrine or paracrine mechanisms. Our study suggests that GDF15, an antitumor gene in the human bladder induced by AMPK inducers, acts as a communication link between stroma and cancer cells in the human bladder.

DNA methylation urine test in the diagnosis of upper tract urothelial carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The DNA methylation urine test, a noninvasive early detection method for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), is currently in full swing. This study aimed to systematically assess its diagnostic performance on UTUC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane were our main databases when searching articles published from January 2000 to December 2023. Sensitivity and specificity were study primary endpoints. I2 was used to evaluated heterogeneity, meanwhile subgroup and meta-regression analyses were adopted to investigated the source of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the result robustness, while Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test was for the publication bias.

RESULTS

Nine studies with 1326 patients were included. The pooled sensitivity was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83-0.93) and specificity were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.83-0.96). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.93-0.97). Substantial heterogeneity was found during the data synthesis, whereas the pooled results remained robust in the sensitivity analysis. None of the potential covariates-urine sample collection method, population, country, methylation test method, or tumor grade-could account for the heterogeneity.

CONCLUSION

DNA methylation urine test is a promising method with high efficiency for UTUC early detection. Nevertheless, owing to the significant heterogeneity, more well-organized studies are warranted to further explore its diagnostic efficiency and application context.

Epigenetic Biomarkers as a New Diagnostic Tool in Bladder Cancer-From Early Detection to Prognosis

Bladder cancer (BC) currently ranks as the 9th most common cancer worldwide. It is characterised by very high rates of recurrence and metastasis. Most cases of BC are of urothelial origin, and due to its ability to penetrate muscle tissue, BC is divided into non-muscle-invasive BC (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive BC (MIBC). The current diagnosis of BC is still based primarily on invasive cystoscopy, which is an expensive and invasive method that carries a risk of various complications. Urine sediment cytology is often used as a complementary test, the biggest drawback of which is its very low sensitivity concerning the detection of BC at early stages, which is crucial for prompt implementation of appropriate treatment. Therefore, there is a great need to develop innovative diagnostic techniques that would enable early detection and accurate prognosis of BC. Great potential in this regard is shown by epigenetic changes, which are often possible to observe long before the onset of clinical symptoms of the disease. In addition, these changes can be detected in readily available biological material, such as urine or blood, indicating the possibility of constructing non-invasive diagnostic tests. Over the past few years, many studies have emerged using epigenetic alterations as novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of BC. This review provides an update on promising diagnostic biomarkers for the detection and prognosis of BC based on epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation and expression levels of selected non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), taking into account the latest literature data.

Bladder cancer immune-related markers: diagnosis, surveillance, and prognosis

As an immune-related tumor type, bladder cancer has been attracting much attention in the study of its markers. In recent years, researchers have made rapid progress in the study of immune-related markers for bladder cancer. Studies have shown that immune-related markers play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis assessment and treatment of bladder cancer. In addition, the detection of immune-related markers can also be used to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy and predict the treatment response of patients. Therefore, in depth study of the expression of immune-related markers in bladder cancer and their application in the clinic is of great significance and is expected to provide new breakthroughs for individualized treatment of bladder cancer. Future studies will focus more on how to detect immune-related markers with low cost and high accuracy, as well as develop new immunotherapeutic strategies to bring better therapeutic outcomes to bladder cancer patients.

Activating transcription factor 3 is an antitumor gene synergizing with growth differentiation factor 15 to modulate cell growth in human bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The functions of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) within the human bladder remain unexplored. This study delves into the expressions, functions, and regulatory mechanisms of ATF3 in human bladder cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Gene expressions were determined by immunoblot, RT-qPCR, and reporter assays. Assays of Ki67, colony formation, Matrigel invasion, and the xenograft animal study were used to assess the cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. Silico analysis from TCGA database examined the correlations between GDF15 and ATF3 expressions, clinicopathologic features, and progression-free survival rates.

RESULTS

Silico analysis confirmed that ATF3 is an antitumor gene, and the expression positively correlates with GDF15 in bladder cancer tissues. Multivariate analysis revealed that low ATF3/GDF15 but not a single low expression of ATF3 is an independent prognostic factor for progression-free survival of bladder cancer patients. Ectopic overexpression of ATF3 downregulated cell proliferation and invasion in bladder cancer cells in vitro, while ATF3-knockdown reversed these results. Knockdown of ATF3 upregulated EMT markers to enhance cell invasion in vitro and downregulated GDF15, NDRG1, and KAI-1 to elevate tumor growth in vivo. The activation of metformin on ATF3 and GDF15 in bladder cancer cells was blocked by SB431542, a TGFβ receptor inhibitor. ATF3 positively regulated GDF15 expression in bladder cancer cells through a feedback loop.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results identify that ATF3 is a metformin-upregulated antitumor gene. Results of Silico analysis align with cell-based studies suggesting that low ATF3/GDF15 could be a negative prognostic marker for bladder cancer.

Contribution of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 to Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer Risk in Taiwan

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9, which degrade type IV collagen, are linked to cancer invasion and metastasis. Gene polymorphisms in MMP-2 and MMP-9 can influence their function, impacting cancer development and progression. This study analyzed the association between polymorphisms MMP-2 rs243865 (C-1306T), rs2285053 (C-735T), and MMP-9 rs3918242 (C-1562T) with serum concentrations of these enzymes in upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) patients. We conducted a case-control study with 218 UTUC patients and 580 healthy individuals in Taiwan. Genotyping was performed using PCR/RFLP on DNA from blood samples, and MMP-2 and MMP-9 serum levels and mRNA expressions in 30 UTUC patients were measured using ELISA and real-time PCR. Statistical analysis showed that MMP-2 rs2285053 and MMP-9 rs3918242 genotypes were differently distributed between UTUC patients and controls (p = 0.0199 and 0.0020). The MMP-2 rs2285053 TT genotype was associated with higher UTUC risk compared to the CC genotype (OR = 2.20, p = 0.0190). Similarly, MMP-9 rs3918242 CT and TT genotypes were linked to increased UTUC risk (OR = 1.51 and 2.92, p = 0.0272 and 0.0054). In UTUC patients, TT carriers of MMP-2 rs2285053 and MMP-9 rs3918242 showed higher mRNA and protein levels (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that MMP-2 rs2285053 and MMP-9 rs3918242 genotypes are significant markers for UTUC risk and metastasis in Taiwan.

A prognostic signature based on seven T-cell-related cell clustering genes in bladder urothelial carcinoma

Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) is one of the most common cancer-related deaths in the world, along with high mortality. Due to the difficult detection of early symptoms, the treatment for this disease is still dissatisfactory. Thus, the current research hotspot is beginning to focus on the immune microenvironment in this disease, aiming to provide guidance for diagnosis and treatment. In this study, the single-cell RNA sequencing data downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database was used to classify the immune cells of BLCA. And the final seven T-cell-related cell clustering genes associated with BLCA prognosis (HSPA2, A2M, JUN, PDGFRB, GBP2, LGALS1, and GAS6) were screened out, and then used for constructing the prognostic model against BLCA based on the Cox and LASSO regression analysis. Satisfactorily, the model could efficiently evaluate the overall survival of BLCA and had the potential to be applied for the clinic treatment. Moreover, we also revealed that the difference in immune infiltration levels and gene mutation might account for the diverse prognosis in BLCA patients. In a word, our findings provided a novel insight for designing efficient immunotherapies for BLCA.

Utilising alternative cystoscopic schedules to minimise cost and patient burden after trimodality therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

To assess urinary symptoms and urine cytology as screening tools for cystoscopic detection of local recurrence after bladder-preserving trimodality treatment (TMT).

METHODS

Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer receiving definitive TMT follow-up three monthly for 2 years, six monthly for the next 3 years and then yearly, with a clinical review, urine cytology and cystoscopy at each visit (triple assessment, TA). Grade 2+ cystitis/haematuria absent/present was scored 0/1, and urine cytology reported negative/suspicious or positive was scored 0/1, respectively. The performance of these two parameters for predicting local recurrence in cystoscopic biopsy was tested. Other hypothetical surveillance schedules included cystoscopy on alternate visits (COAV), or suspected recurrence (COSR), six-monthly COSR and six-monthly TA.

RESULTS

A total of 630 follow-up visits in 112 patients with 19 recurrences (7 muscle invasive, 12 non-muscle invasive) at a median follow-up of 19 months were analysed. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical symptoms were 47.4% and 92%, and for urine cytology 58% and 85%, respectively. The combination of clinical symptoms and cytology (COSR) was 95% sensitive and 78% specific for local recurrence but 100% sensitive for muscle-invasive recurrence. Both COAV and COSV schedules showed a high area under the curve (AUC) for detecting local recurrence (COAV = 0.84, COSR = 0.83), muscle-invasive recurrence (AUC = 0.848 each) and non-muscle-invasive recurrence (COAV = 0.82, COSR = 0.81); reducing the need for TAs by 64% and 67% respectively, and overall cost by 18% and 33%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Cystoscopy at suspected recurrence during follow-up is safe and the most cost-effective for detecting muscle-invasive local recurrences, while cystoscopy at alternate visits may be more optimal for detecting any local recurrence.

DNA Methylation Architecture Provides Insight into the Pathogenesis of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE

Numerous studies suggested methylation modifications play an important role in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), but few have depicted DNA methylation architecture on the pathological process of UTUC. We aimed to better understand the pathogenesis of UTUC and provide precision medicine references when managing UTUC patients.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Scopus were searched for UTUC until December 31, 2020. Methodological quality assessment was conducted according to NIH recommendations. Meta-analysis was conducted to assess the prognostic effect of methylated genes. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to validate methylated genes and cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG) sites.

RESULTS

Eleven studies (3619 patients) were eligible to investigate 12 methylated genes and 10 CpGs. The quality of all the studies was fair to good. Meta-analysis found the pooled effect of eligible methylated genes had a low risk of tumor recurrence (HR = 0·67; 95% CI: 0·51-0·87; P = ·003), but a high risk of tumor progression (HR = 1·60; 95% CI: 1·17-2·18; P = ·003) and cancer-specific mortality (HR = 1·35; 95% CI: 1·06-1·72; P = ·01). For individual methylation status of GDF15, HSPA2, RASSF1A, TMEFF2, and VIM, the pooled effect of each gene was found pleiotropic on both diagnosis and prognosis. Survival analysis suggested higher methylation of SPARCL1 had a better disease-specific survival (P = ·048).

CONCLUSION

We combined meta-analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using the most updated evidence on the methylation of UTUC. Candidate biomarkers with essential diagnosis and prognosis function might provide precision medicine references for personalized therapies.

CALN1 hypomethylation as a biomarker for high-risk bladder cancer

Background

DNA methylation in cancer is considered a diagnostic and predictive biomarker. We investigated the usefulness of the methylation status of CALN1 as a biomarker for bladder cancer using methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme (MSRE)-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Methods

Eighty-two bladder cancer fresh samples were collected via transurethral resection of bladder tumors. Genomic DNA was extracted from the samples, and MSRE-qPCR was performed to determine the CALN1 methylation percentage. Reverse transcription-qPCR was performed to assess the correlation between CALN1 methylation and mRNA expression. The association between CALN1 methylation percentage and clinicopathological variables of all cases and intravesical recurrence of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (non-MIBC) cases were analyzed.

Results

Of the 82 patients, nine had MIBC and 71 had non-MIBC who had not undergone total cystectomy. The median CALN1 methylation percentage was 79.5% (interquartile range: 51.1–92.6%). The CALN1 methylation percentage had a negative relationship with CALN1 mRNA expression (Spearman’s ρ = − 0.563 and P = 0.012). Hypomethylation of CALN1 was associated with advanced tumor stage (P = 0.0007) and histologically high grade (P = 0.018). Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that CALN1 hypomethylation was an independent risk factor for intravesical recurrence in non-MIBC patients (hazard ratio 3.83, 95% confidence interval; 1.14–13.0, P = 0.031).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that CALN1 methylation percentage could be a useful molecular biomarker for bladder cancer.

Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer: Cell-Free DNA, Epigenetic Modifications and Non-Coding RNAs

Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most frequent cancer in the world. The initial diagnosis and surveillance of BC require a combination of invasive and non-invasive methods, which are costly and suffer from several limitations. Cystoscopy with urine cytology and histological examination presents the standard diagnostic approach. Various biomarkers (e.g., proteins, genes, and RNAs) have been extensively studied in relation to BC. However, the new trend of liquid biopsy slowly proves to be almost equally effective. Cell-free DNA, non-coding RNA, and other subcellular structures are now being tested for the best predictive and diagnostic value. In this review, we focused on published gene mutations, especially in DNA fragments, but also epigenetic modifications, and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules acquired by liquid biopsy. We performed an online search in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases using the terms "bladder cancer", in combination with "markers" or "biomarkers" published until August 2022. If applicable, we set the sensitivity and specificity threshold to 80%. In the era of precision medicine, the development of complex laboratory techniques fuels the search and development of more sensitive and specific biomarkers for diagnosis, follow-up, and screening of BC. Future efforts will be focused on the validation of their sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and their utility in everyday clinical practice.

The Upregulation of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor β/Smad Signaling in Bladder Carcinoma Cells

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is known as a TGFβ-like cytokine acting on the TGFβ receptor to modulate target genes. GDF15 is regarded as a tumor suppressor gene in the human bladder and the caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) induces GDF15 expression to inhibit the tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. However, the interactions among GDF15, CAPE, and TGFβ/Smads signaling in the human bladder carcinoma cells remain unexplored. Results revealed that TGFβ downregulated the expression of GDF15 via the activation of Smad 2/3 and Smad 1/5. Induction of GDF15 on its downstream genes, NDRG1 and maspin, is dependent on the TGFβ/Smad pathways. Moreover, TGFβ blocked the CAPE-inducing expressions of GDF15, maspin, and NDRG1. Pretreatment of TGF receptor kinase inhibitor not only blocked the activation of TGFβ but also attenuated the activation of GDF15 on the expressions of maspin and NDRG1. The CAPE treatment attenuated the activation of TGFβ on cell proliferation and invasion. Our findings indicate that TGFβ downregulated the expressions of GDF15, maspin, and NDRG1 via TGFβ/Smad signaling. Whereas, CAPE acts as an antagonist on TGFβ/Smad signaling to block the effect of TGFβ on the GDF15 expression and cell proliferation and invasion in bladder carcinoma cells.

The Expression Level of ABCC6 Transporter in Colon Cancer Cells Correlates with the Activation of Different Intracellular Signaling Pathways

The ATP-binding cassette sub-family C member 6 transporter (ABCC6) is mainly found in the basolateral plasma membrane of hepatic and kidney cells. In hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells, ABCC6 was involved in cell migration. In the present study, we investigated the role of ABCC6 in colon cancer evaluating the effect of Quercetin and Probenecid, inhibitors of the ectonucleotidase NT5E and ABCC6, respectively, on migration rate of Caco2 and HT29 cell lines. Both drugs reduced cell migration analyzed by scratch test. Gene and protein expression were evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. In Caco2 cells, in which ABCC6 is significantly expressed, the addition of ATP restored motility, suggesting the involvement of P2 receptors. Contrary to HT29 cells, where the expression of ABCC6 is negligible but remarkable to the level of NT5E, no effect of ATP addition was detected, suggesting a main role on their migration by the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt system. Therefore, in some colon cancers in which ABCC6 is overexpressed, it may have a primary role in controlling the extracellular purinergic system by feeding it with ATP, thus representing a potential target for a therapy aimed at mitigating invasiveness of those type of cancers.

A novel and sensitive DNA methylation marker for the urine-based liquid biopsies to detect bladder cancer

Background

Better prognostic outcome is closely correlated with early detection of bladder cancer. Current non-invasive urianalysis relies on simultaneously testing multiple methylation markers to achieve relatively high accuracy. Therefore, we have developed an easy-to-use, convenient, and accurate single-target urine-based DNA methylation test for the malignancy.

Methods

By analyzing TCGA data, 344 candidate markers with 424 primer pairs and probe sets synthesized were systematically screened in cancer cell lines, paired tissue specimens, and urine sediments from bladder cancer patients and normal controls. The identified marker was further validated in large case-control cohorts. Wilcoxon rank sum tests and c2 tests were performed to compare methylation levels between case-control groups and correlate methylation levels with demographic and clinical characteristics. In addition, MSP, qMSP, RT-PCR, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry were performed to measure levels of DNA methylation, mRNA transcription, and protein expression in cancer cell lines and tissues.

Results

A top-performing DMRTA2 marker identified was tested in both discovery and validation sets, showing similar sensitivity and specificity for bladder cancer detection. Overall sensitivity in the aggregate set was 82.9%(179/216). The specificity, from a control group consisting of patients with lithangiuria, prostatoplasia, and prostatitis, is 92.5%(468/506). Notably, the methylation assay had the highest sensitivities for tumors at stages of T1(90.4%) and T2(95.0%) compared with Ta (63.0%), T3(81.8%), and T4(81.8%). Furthermore, the test showed admirable detection rate of 80.0%(24/30) for recurring cancers. While methylation was observed in 39/54(72.2%) urine samples from patients with carcinomas of renal pelvis and ureter, it was detected at extremely low rate of 6.0%(8/133) in kidney and prostate cancers. Compared with SV-HUC-1, the normal bladder epithelial cell line, DMRTA2 was hypermethylated in 8/9 bladder cancer cell lines, consistent with the results of MSP and qMSP, but not correlated with mRNA and protein expression levels in these cell lines. Similarly, DMRTA2 immunostaining was moderate in some tissues but weak in others. Further studies are needed to address functional implications of DMRTA2 hypermethylation.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that a single-target DNA methylation signature, mDMRTA2, could be highly effective to detect both primary and recurring bladder cancer via urine samples.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09616-y.

Identification of an immune gene-associated prognostic signature in patients with bladder cancer

A deeper understanding of the interaction between tumor cell and the immune microenvironment in bladder cancer may help select predictive and prognostic biomarkers. The current study aims to construct a prognostic signature for bladder cancer by analysis of molecular characteristics, as well as tumor-immune interactions. RNA-sequencing and clinical information from bladder cancer patients were downloaded from the TCGA database. The single sample Gene Sets Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) and Cell type Identification by Estimating Relative Subsets of RNA Transcripts (CIBERSORT) were employed to separate the samples into two clusters. Lasso Cox regression was performed to construct an immune gene signature for bladder cancer. The correlation between key target genes of immune checkpoint blockade and the prognostic signature was also analyzed. Dataset from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was retrieved for validation. Two immunophenotypes and immunological characteristics were identified, and a 17-immune gene signature was constructed to provide an independent prognostic signature for bladder cancer. The signature was verified through external validation and correlated with genomic characteristics and clinicopathologic features. Finally, a nomogram was generated from the clinical characteristics and immune signature. Our study reveals a tumor-immune microenvironment signature useful for prognosis in bladder cancer. The results provide information on the potential development of treatment strategies for bladder cancer patients. Prospective studies are warranted to validate the prognostic capability of this model, but these data highlight the role of the microenvironment in the clinical outcome of patients.

The Evolution of Clinicopathological Diagnostic Features of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma in China: A Summary of 2561 Cases in the Last 20 Years

Objectives

To summarize the clinicopathological diagnostic features and evolutionary trends of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in China over the past 20 years.

Methods

All patients diagnosed with upper tract urothelial carcinoma in the Peking University First Hospital from 2001 to 2020 were retrospectively collected. Data were divided into two groups (2001-2010 and 2011-2020) according to the date of diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS V22.0. Chi-square analysis and t-test were adopted to analyze depending on the data type. Subgroup analysis based on 5 years was used for visualization to present trends. Both Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression were used for univariate and multivariate survival analysis.

Results

The study included 2561 cases diagnosed with upper tract urothelial carcinoma in total. Compared with the first decade (2001-2010), patients of the second decades (2011-2020) had elder mean age (66.65 versus 67.59, years, p=0.025), higher male proportion (43.5% versus 49.0%, p=0.034), lower incidence of renal pelvic tumors (53.4% versus 45.8%, p<0.001) and multifocality (18.6% versus 12.0%, p<0.001), higher incidence of ureteral tumors (52.2% versus 60.9%, p<0.001).In recent ten years, the incidence of muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (pT2+) decreased significantly (64.4% versus 54.9%, p<0.001),and the mean size of renal pelvic tumors increased(3.46 versus 3.73, cm, p=0.043). The size of the ureteral tumor, the histopathologic grade showed no significant change. The prognostic analysis based on 709 patients regularly followed at our center revealed that the male gender and G3 histopathological grade were independent risk factors for poorer prognosis in patients with UTUC.

Conclusion

In the past 20 years, the clinicopathological diagnostic features of upper tract urothelial carcinoma in the Chinese population has changed significantly, suggesting an increased risk of a poorer prognosis for UTUC. This trend may be related to updating diagnostic techniques and self-monitoring awareness. However, we need more high-grade, multicenter trials to verify it in the future.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibits the growth of bladder carcinoma cells by upregulating growth differentiation factor 15

BACKGROUND

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a bioactive component of propolis, has beneficial effects on cancer prevention. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is an antitumor gene of bladder cancer. Therefore, this study investigated the anti-cancer effect of CAPE on bladder carcinoma cells and related mechanisms.

METHODS

The expressions of GDF15, N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), and maspin, and the activations of ERK, JNK, p38, and AMPKα1/2 in human bladder cells after gene transfection or knockdown were determined by immunoblot, RT-qPCR, and reporter assays. The assays of 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), CyQUANT cell proliferation, and Matrigel invasion, and the xenograft animal study were used to assess the cell proliferation, invasion, and tumorigenesis.

RESULTS

GDF15 expression in epithelial cells was negatively correlated with neoplasia in vitro. Also, GDF15 exhibits in bladder fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. CAPE-induced expressions of NDRG1 and maspin decreased cell proliferation and invasion of bladder carcinoma cells in a GDF15-dependent manner in vitro. The xenograft animal study suggesting CAPE attenuated tumor growth in vivo. CAPE increased phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38, and AMPKα1/2 to modulate the GDF15 expressions. Pretreatments with ERK, JNK, or p38 inhibitors partially inhibited the CAPE effects on the inductions of GDF15, NDRG1, or maspin. Knockdown of AMPKα1/2 attenuated the CAPE-induced GDF15 expression and cell proliferation in bladder carcinoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that CAPE is a promising agent for anti-tumor growth in human bladder carcinoma cells via the upregulation of GDF15.

Upper urothelial tract high-grade carcinoma: comparison of urine cytology and DNA methylation analysis in urinary samples

Numerous studies showed that bladder urothelial carcinoma and upper urothelial tract carcinoma (UTUC) display clinical and genomic similarities. In order to analyze that the same panel of biomarkers used in the diagnosis of bladder urothelial carcinoma could be suitable for early detection of UTUC, we performed a retrospective study in which we analyzed Bladder EpiCheck scores in the urinary samples obtained by selective ureteral catheterization in a high-grade UTUC cohort, correlating the results with urinary cytology and diagnostic urethral biopsies. The present study represents a retrospective analysis of 82 patients with clinically localized high-grade UTUC (60 renal pelvis UTUC, 22 ureter UTUC) who had undergone a radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) at our Urology department from June 2018 to November 2020. Before any surgical procedure, one sample of urine, obtained by selective ureteral catheterization, was collected for each patient for cytological examination, and the remaining material was stored for the Bladder EpiCheck test. Our results showed that the sensitivity of the methylation test for high-grade UTUC was about 97.4%, significantly higher than the sensitivity of urinary cytology either considering the HGUC cytological diagnosis or including in the positive cases the SHGUC cytological diagnosis (97.4% versus 59% or 70.5%). The methylation analysis of urinary samples may represent a valid tool in the diagnostic process of patients with suspected UTUC. In cases with a difficult clinical decision after upper urinary tract biopsy and cytology, the methylation test could assist in the clinical management of UTUC patients.

Current Evidence and Future Perspectives in the Management of Nonmetastatic Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

This case-based discussion describes the management of a 66-yr-old man who presented to the emergency department with gross hematuria. His urine cytology was benign, and computed tomography (CT) with nephrographic phase revealed a 2.5 cm filling defect within the left renal pelvis and luminal narrowing in the right proximal ureter with hydronephrosis. CT showed no lymphadenopathy and no sign of metastatic disease. Cystoscopy was normal. In a progressive case-based discussion fashion, we will discuss the diagnostic and treatment options with two different perspectives: (1) guidelines-based current standard of care and (2) an outlook on future perspectives using the latest scientific advances that may soon become the standard of care. PATIENT SUMMARY: This presentation of a real-life clinical scenario will be useful in describing the current standard of care and future perspectives regarding the diagnosis and treatment of upper urinary tract tumors.

Trends in urine biomarker discovery for urothelial bladder cancer: DNA, RNA, or protein?

Urothelial bladder cancer is a complex disease displaying a landscape of heterogenous molecular subtypes, mutation profiles and clinical presentations. Diagnosis and surveillance rely on flexible cystoscopy which has high accuracy, albeit accompanied by a high-cost burden for healthcare providers and discomfort for patients. Advances in "omic" technologies and computational biology have provided insights into the molecular pathogenesis of bladder cancer and provided powerful tools to identify markers for disease detection, risk stratification, and predicting responses to therapy. To date, numerous attempts have been made to discover and validate diagnostic biomarkers that could be deployed as an adjunct to the cystoscopic diagnosis and long-term surveillance of bladder cancer. We report a comprehensive literature analysis using PubMed to assess the changing trends in investigating DNA, RNA, or proteins as diagnostic urinary biomarkers over a period of 5 decades: 1970-2020. A gradual shift has been observed in research away from protein biomarkers to nucleic acids including different classes of RNA, and DNA methylation and mutation markers. Until 2000, publications involving protein biomarker discovery constituted 87% of the total number of research articles with DNA comprising 6% and RNA 7%. Since 2000 the proportion of protein biomarker articles has fallen to 40%, and DNA and RNA studies increased to 32% and 28%, respectively. Clearly research focus, perhaps driven by technological innovation, has shifted from proteins to nucleic acids. We optimistically hypothesise that, following thorough validation, a clinically useful detection test for bladder cancer based on a panel of DNA or RNA markers could become reality within 5-10 years.

Urine DNA methylation assay enables early detection and recurrence monitoring for bladder cancer

BACKGROUNDCurrent methods for the detection and surveillance of bladder cancer (BCa) are often invasive and/or possess suboptimal sensitivity and specificity, especially in early-stage, minimal, and residual tumors.METHODSWe developed an efficient method, termed utMeMA, for the detection of urine tumor DNA methylation at multiple genomic regions by MassARRAY. We identified the BCa-specific methylation markers by combined analyses of cohorts from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital (SYSMH), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The BCa diagnostic model was built in a retrospective cohort (n = 313) and validated in a multicenter, prospective cohort (n = 175). The performance of this diagnostic assay was analyzed and compared with urine cytology and FISH.RESULTSWe first discovered 26 significant methylation markers of BCa in combined analyses. We built and validated a 2-marker-based diagnostic model that discriminated among patients with BCa with high accuracy (86.7%), sensitivity (90.0%), and specificity (83.1%). Furthermore, the utMeMA-based assay achieved a great improvement in sensitivity over urine cytology and FISH, especially in the detection of early-stage (stage Ta and low-grade tumor, 64.5% vs. 11.8%, 15.8%), minimal (81.0% vs. 14.8%, 37.9%), residual (93.3% vs. 27.3%, 64.3%), and recurrent (89.5% vs. 31.4%, 52.8%) tumors. The urine diagnostic score from this assay was better associated with tumor malignancy and burden.CONCLUSIONUrine tumor DNA methylation assessment for early diagnosis, minimal, residual tumor detection and surveillance in BCa is a rapid, high-throughput, noninvasive, and promising approach, which may reduce the burden of cystoscopy and blind second surgery.FUNDINGThis study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

A Urine-Based Liquid Biopsy Method for Detection of Upper Tract Urinary Carcinoma

Background

Conventional clinical detection methods such as CT, urine cytology, and ureteroscopy display low sensitivity and/or are invasive in the diagnosis of upper tract urinary carcinoma (UTUC), a factor precluding their use. Previous studies on urine biopsy have not shown satisfactory sensitivity and specificity in the application of both gene mutation or gene methylation panels. Therefore, these unfavorable factors call for an urgent need for a sensitive and non-invasive method for the diagnosis of UTUC.

Methods

In this study, a total of 161 hematuria patients were enrolled with (n = 69) or without (n = 92) UTUC. High-throughput sequencing of 17 genes and methylation analysis for ONECUT2 CpG sites were combined as a liquid biopsy test panel. Further, a logistic regression prediction model that contained several significant features was used to evaluate the risk of UTUC in these patients.

Results

In total, 86 UTUC− and 64 UTUC+ case samples were enrolled for the analysis. A logistic regression analysis of significant features including age, the mutation status of TERT promoter, and ONECUT2 methylation level resulted in an optimal model with a sensitivity of 94.0%, a specificity of 93.1%, the positive predictive value of 92.2% and a negative predictive value of 94.7%. Notably, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.957 in the training dataset while internal validation produced an AUC of 0.962. It is worth noting that during follow-up, a patient diagnosed with ureteral inflammation at the time of diagnosis exhibiting both positive mutation and methylation test results was diagnosed with ureteral carcinoma 17 months after his enrollment.

Conclusion

This work utilized the epigenetic biomarker ONECUT2 for the first time in the detection of UTUC and discovered its superior performance. To improve its sensitivity, we combined the biomarker with high-throughput sequencing of 17 genes test. It was found that the selected logistic regression model diagnosed with ureteral cancer can evaluate upper tract urinary carcinoma risk of patients with hematuria and outperform other existing panels in providing clinical recommendations for the diagnosis of UTUC. Moreover, its high negative predictive value is conducive to rule to exclude patients without UTUC.

Diagnostic value of a comprehensive, urothelial carcinoma-specific next-generation sequencing panel in urine cytology and bladder tumor specimens

BACKGROUND

Urine cytology can reliably diagnose high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC) but not low-grade urothelial carcinoma (LGUC), and a more sensitive test is needed. Previously, a pilot study highlighted the possible diagnostic utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in identifying both LGUC and HGUC in urine cytology specimens.

METHODS

Twenty-eight urine ThinPrep cytology specimens and preceding or subsequent bladder tumor biopsy/resection specimens obtained within 3 months were included in the study (LGUC, n = 15; HGUC, n = 13). A customized, bladder-specific NGS panel was performed; it covered 69 frequently mutated or altered genes in urothelial carcinoma (UC) that were reported by The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer.

RESULTS

The sequencing results were compared between the urine cytology specimens and the corresponding bladder tumor biopsies/resections. TP53 was the most frequently identified mutation in HGUC cases (11 of 13 [85%]). PIK3CA and KDM6A were the most frequently identified mutations in LGUC: they occurred in 7 of 15 cases (47%) and in 6 of 15 cases (40%), respectively. Additional frequent mutations identified in the panel included ARID1A (n = 5), EP300 (n = 4), LRP1B (n = 3), ERBB2 (n = 2), STAG2 (n = 2), FGFR3 (n = 3), MLL (n = 2), MLL3 (n = 2), CREBBP1 (n = 1), RB1 (n = 1), and FAT4 (n = 1). Overall, the concordance between the cytology and surgical specimens was 75%. The sensitivity and specificity for identifying mutations in urine cytology specimens were 84% and 100%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A bladder-specific NGS panel increases the sensitivity and specificity of urine cytology's diagnostic utility in both low- and high-grade tumors and may serve as a noninvasive surveillance method in the follow-up of patients with UC harboring known mutations.

From membrane to mineralization: the curious case of the ABCC6 transporter

ATP-binding cassette subfamily C member 6 gene/protein (ABCC6) is an ATP-dependent transmembrane transporter predominantly expressed in the liver and the kidney. ABCC6 first came to attention in human medicine when it was discovered in 2000 that mutations in its encoding gene, ABCC6, caused the autosomal recessive multisystemic mineralization disease pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). Since then, the physiological and pathological roles of ABCC6 have been the subject of intense research. In the last 20 years, significant findings have clarified ABCC6 structure as well as its physiological role in mineralization homeostasis in humans and animal models. Yet, several facets of ABCC6 biology remain currently incompletely understood, ranging from the precise nature of its substrate(s) to the increasingly complex molecular genetics. Nonetheless, advances in our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms causing mineralization lead to several treatment options being suggested or already tested in pilot clinical trials for ABCC6 deficiency. This review highlights current knowledge of ABCC6 and the challenges ahead, particularly the attempts to translate basic science into clinical practice.

Advancements in the clinical management of upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Introduction: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) remains a complex disease to manage given challenges in staging, surgical resection, use of perioperative therapy, and prevention of bladder recurrences. High-level evidence is limited to guide management; however, recent data have shifted treatment paradigms. We intend to review recent evidence on advancements in the clinical management for UTUC.Areas covered: This review summarizes advancements in pre-operative work-up, surgical technique, and the use of intravesical and systemic therapy in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. Special comment is made on progress in the genomics of UTUC and how that can inform clinical practice.Expert opinion: Advancements in the clinical management of UTUC are most prominently being made in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting. Although level I evidence is sparse, data from both single and multi-institutional retrospective studies strongly encourage the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy especially in high-risk or advanced-stage patients.

Epigenetics of Bladder Cancer: Where Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets Meet

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasia of the urothelial tract. Due to its high incidence, prevalence, recurrence and mortality, it remains an unsolved clinical and social problem. The treatment of BC is challenging and, although immunotherapies have revealed potential benefit in a percentage of patients, it remains mostly an incurable disease at its advanced state. Epigenetic alterations, including aberrant DNA methylation, altered chromatin remodeling and deregulated expression of non-coding RNAs are common events in BC and can be driver events in BC pathogenesis. Accordingly, these epigenetic alterations are now being used as potential biomarkers for these disorders and are being envisioned as potential therapeutic targets for the future management of BC. In this review, we summarize the recent findings in these emerging and exciting new aspects paving the way for future clinical treatment of this disease.

High Detection Rate for Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Using an Approved DNA Methylation Signature Test

INTRODUCTION

Cystoscopy and transurethral resection are the current reference standard tests to diagnose and histologically confirm non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In other tumor entities (ie, colon carcinoma, cervical cancer), DNA methylation markers have been approved as diagnostic tests with high diagnostic power. In our case-control study, we used an approved molecular cervical cancer diagnostics test that includes 6 DNA methylation markers (GynTect) for the detection of bladder cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included samples from 40 patients with bladder cancer and 34 control subjects. In a pilot study, we analyzed DNA methylation in 38 tumor tissues and 4 healthy ureters using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, we determined the sensitivity and specificity of the GynTect for the detection of bladder cancer in urine sediments from 40 patients with bladder cancer and 30 control subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia or urolithiasis.

RESULTS

The markers showed very different methylation rates in the NMIBC tissues, ranging from 2.6% to 78.9%. No methylation of any of the markers was detectable in the healthy ureters. Using the urine sediments from the patients with cancer and control subjects, we found surprisingly high sensitivity and specificity for the GynTect assay (60% and 96.7%, respectively). The application of different algorithms for evaluation of the markers included in GynTect resulted in a sensitivity of ≤ 90% and specificity of ≤ 100%.

CONCLUSION

The GynTect assay, originally designed for cervical cancer diagnostics, showed unexpectedly high diagnostic accuracy for bladder cancer detection. The inclusion of additional methylation markers might allow for the development of a suitable diagnostic marker set based on the GynTect test for NMIBC diagnostics.

DNA-Methylation-Based Detection of Urological Cancer in Urine: Overview of Biomarkers and Considerations on Biomarker Design, Source of DNA, and Detection Technologies

Changes in DNA methylation have been causally linked with cancer and provide promising biomarkers for detection in biological fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva. The field has been fueled by genome-wide characterization of DNA methylation across cancer types as well as new technologies for sensitive detection of aberrantly methylated DNA molecules. For urological cancers, urine is in many situations the preferred "liquid biopsy" source because it contains exfoliated tumor cells and cell-free tumor DNA and can be obtained easily, noninvasively, and repeatedly. Here, we review recent advances made in the development of DNA-methylation-based biomarkers for detection of bladder, prostate, renal, and upper urinary tract cancers, with an emphasis on the performance characteristics of biomarkers in urine. For most biomarkers evaluated in independent studies, there was great variability in sensitivity and specificity. We discuss issues that impact the outcome of DNA-methylation-based detection of urological cancer and account for the great variability in performance, including genomic location of biomarkers, source of DNA, and technical issues related to the detection of rare aberrantly methylated DNA molecules. Finally, we discuss issues that remain to be addressed to fully exploit the potential of DNA-methylation-based biomarkers in the clinic, including the need for prospective trials and careful selection of control groups.

Emerging biomarkers for the diagnosis and monitoring of urothelial carcinoma

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) arises extensively from the renal pelvis, ureter, urinary bladder, and urethra. UC represents a clinical and social challenge because of its incidence, post-treatment recurrence rate, and prognosis. Combinations of urine cytology, cystoscopy, and conventional imaging such as computed tomography are currently used for diagnosis and monitoring modalities of UC. Both the poor diagnostic accuracy of urine cytology and poor cost performance of cystoscopy and conventional imaging modalities emphasize the urgent need for advancement in clinical guidance for UC. Urine- and blood-based biomarkers for detection of UC of the bladder and upper urinary tract represent a considerable research area. Biomarkers can help to improve UC diagnosis with the aim of replacing cystoscopy and other imaging examinations in future and may enable individualizing risk stratification regarding therapy and follow-up. Over the decades, numerous studies have focused on the potential application of biomarkers for UC, including urine, circulating tumor DNA, RNAs, proteins, and extracellular vesicles. Although some biomarkers such as ImmunoCyt/uCyt+, UroVysion, NMP-22, bladder tumor antigen, CxBladder, and Xpert Bladder Cancer are currently available in clinical practice, few biomarkers achieve high sensitivity and specificity. Emerging biomarkers are continuously developed and reported in medical journals. However, there is a significant lack on following external validation using different cohorts. The positive results are needed to be confirmed by more studies with large-scale cohorts and long follow-up periods to prove the true value of novel biomarkers, followed by their adoption in clinical practice. The present paper provides an overview of the evidence based on high-impact studies regarding urine- and blood-based biomarkers and their clinical applications in bladder cancer and upper tract UC.