Maspin modulates adhesion of bladder carcinoma cells to vascular endothelium.

Purpose: Maspin belongs to the serpin family and has been shown to suppress tumor growth and metastasis in several tumor types. The role of maspin in bladder carcinoma has not been fully elucidated, and the object of this study was to investigate whether maspin contributes to bladder tumor adhesion to vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC).

Methods: Expression of maspin-coding mRNA was evaluated in a panel of bladder carcinoma cell lines.