β-catenin and SKP2 proteins as predictors of grade and stage of non-muscle invasive urothelial bladder carcinoma.

Background: To evaluate the expression of beta-catenin (β-catenin) and SKP2 proteins in superficial bladder cancer cases and their correlation with tumor grade and stage.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, we retrospectively evaluated the expression of β-catenin and SKP2 proteins in tissue specimens from patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and compared their results with a cohort of chronic nonspecific cystitis's. Then we and explored these markers association with tumor grade and stage.

Results: A total of 40 patients were retrospectively identified, 50% was NMIBC and the rest were chronic nonspecific cystitis. β-catenin was expressed in 18 (90%) patients of the NMIBC group in comparison to 14 (70%) of the control group with (P=0.1), while SKP2 protein was only expressed in NMIBC groups (P=0.03). A statistically significant correlation was identified between nucleocytoplasmic localization of β-catenin and SKP2 with tumor grade, stage.

Conclusions: β-catenin and SKP2 expression are providing promising results for differentiating higher grade and stage non muscle invasive bladder cancers.