Angiogenin expression in superficial bladder cancer.

The concentration of angiogenin in the tumor tissues and corresponding normal tissues of 20 superficial bladder cancer patients was measured using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). In addition, immunohistochemical assays were performed in order to clarify the localization of angiogenin expression in bladder tissue. The mean concentration of angiogenin in the carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in the corresponding normal tissues (P < 0.001). Angiogenin expression was weak in the bladder cancer cells. The present results show that the expression of angiogenin is lower in superficial bladder cancer tissues than in corresponding normal tissues. The biological role of angiogenin in carcinogenesis of bladder cancer may be different from those of other angiogenic factors.