The Dependence between Urinary Levels of Angiogenesis Factors, 8-Iso-prostaglandin F2α, ɣ-Synuclein, and Interleukin-13 in Patients with Bladder Cancer: A Pilot Study

Abstract

During the last decade, a significant increase in the incidence of bladder cancer (BC) has been observed. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the process of tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, the participation of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in BC pathogenesis is indicated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the urinary levels of parameters of angiogenesis, stimulating angiogenin (ANG) and inhibiting angiostatin (ANGST), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) as a marker of oxidative stress, ɣ-synuclein (SNCG) as a cancer progression parameter, and interleukin-13 (IL-13) as an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator. The levels of ANG, ANGST, 8-iso-PGF2α, SNCG, and IL-13 in the urine of BC patients and healthy controls were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These parameters were examined in the whole group of BC patients and in subgroups depending on the clinical stage: nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC); histopathologic malignancy: low grade (LG) and high grade (HG) and in primary and recurrent BC. Significantly, higher urinary parameters were found in BC patients in comparison to controls. Levels of all parameters increased with the development of cancer, with the exception of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, in which the level was higher in the early stages of the disease, but these differences were not statistically significant. Some correlations have been demonstrated between parameters in BC patients. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curves, ANG and ANGST had the best diagnostic value for BC. The obtained results indicate the important role of the examined parameters of angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the pathogenesis and development of BC. It is reasonable to continue research in order to thoroughly assess the impact of various associated processes on the course of BC. It is also important to carry out similar tests in patients with other urological diseases.