Pathogenic and Diagnostic Potential of BLCA-1 and BLCA-4 Nuclear Protein in Urothelial Cell Carcinoma of Human Bladder

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder is one of the most common malignancies of genitourinary tract. Patients withbladder cancer need a life-long surveillance, directly due to the relatively high recurrence rate of this tumor. The use of cystoscopyrepresents the gold standard for the followup of previously treated patients. Nevertheless, several factors, including cost andinvasiveness, render cystoscopy not ideal for routine controls. Advances in the identification of specific alterations in the nuclearstructure of bladder cancer cells have opened novel diagnostic landscapes. The members of nuclear matrix protein family BLCA-1and BLCA-4, are currently under evaluation as bladder cancer urinary markers. They are involved in tumour cell proliferation,survival, and angiogenesis. In this paper, we illustrate the role of BLCA-1 and BLCA-4 in bladder carcinogenesis and their potentialexploitation as biomarkers in this cancer.1.