Loss of FHIT expression in transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

Abstract

Cytogenetic and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies demonstrated chromosome 3p deletions in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). We recently cloned the tumor suppressor gene FHIT (fragile histidine triad) at 3p14.2, one of the most frequently deleted chromosomal regions in TCC of the bladder, and showed that it is the target of environmental carcinogens. Abnormalities at the FHIT locus have been found in tumors of the lung, breast, cervix, head and neck, stomach, pancreas, and clear cell carcinoma of the kidney. We examined six TCC derived cell lines (SW780, T24, Hs228T, CRL7930, CRL7833, and HTB9) and 30 primary TCC of the bladder for the integrity of the FHIT transcript, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to investigate a potential role of the FHIT gene in TCC of the bladder. In addition, we tested expression of the Fhit protein in the six TCC-derived cell lines by Western blot analysis and in 85 specimens of primary TCCs by immunohistochemistry. Three of the six cell lines (50%) did not show the wild-type FHIT transcript, and Fhit protein was not detected in four of the six cell lines (67%) tested. Fhit expression also was correlated with pathological and clinical status. A significant correlation was observed between reduced Fhit expression and advanced stage of the tumors. Overall, 26 of 30 (87%) primary TCCs showed abnormal transcripts. Fhit protein was absent or greatly reduced in 61% of the TCCs analyzed by immunohistochemistry. These results suggested that loss of Fhit expression may be as important in the development of bladder cancer as it is for other neoplasms caused by environmental carcinogens.

Figure 1.

The FHIT gene. A: FHIT exons 1–10, STSs markers analyzed by PCR (1–10), and the five BACs covering the central portion of the FHIT gene. B: Homozygous deletions of the FHIT gene observed in SW780, CRL7930, and CRL7833 cells.

Figure 2.

Analysis of expression of the FHIT gene by nested RT-PCR. FHIT RT-PCR products in 30 primary TCCs are shown. Case names are shown at the top; the size of the amplified product is to the left. The 715-bp band represents the size of the wild-type FHIT transcript.

Figure 3.

Expression of the Fhit protein in TCC cell lines. Western blot analysis of protein from TCC-derived cell lines with anti-Fhit antiserum is shown. The size of the protein is shown at the left. Bottom: Absence of the Fhit protein in SW780, Hs228T, CRL7930, and HBT29 protein lysates; the 293 lysate is from a transformed human kidney cell line previously shown to express Fhit. Top: β-Actin expression for the same membranes.

Figure 4.

Fhit immunostaining in primary TCCs. A: Uniform strong staining of normal urothelium (×250). B: Papillary TCC showing Fhit expression (×120). C: Complete absence of Fhit staining in a superficial TCC (×250).