and as potential biomarkers in bladder cancer: Insights from a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis.

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer (BLCA) remains a prevalent and complex malignancy characterized by significant heterogeneity. Treatment strategies are diverse, based on patient characteristics and cancer stage. Early identification of biomarkers is crucial for improving diagnosis, staging, and treatment planning. These biomarkers offer valuable insights into lesion features, tumor differentiation, and disease progression, thereby playing a pivotal role in the personalized management of BLCA.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the expression of cancer-testis antigens and in BLCA using comprehensive bioinformatic analyses to assess their potential as biomarkers.

METHODS

The UALCAN database, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets, was employed to compare and expression levels in normal bladder tissues and BLCA samples. In addition, the Kaplan-Meier Plotter, OncoDB, and TIMER 2.0 platforms were utilized to evaluate the prognostic and immunotherapeutic relevance of these antigens.

RESULTS

The findings suggest that and are integral to various biological processes driving BLCA onset and progression. Both genes appear to facilitate BLCA cell progression and migration, contributing to poor prognosis through specific pathways and by altering tumor microenvironment. Notably, expression was significantly upregulated in BLCA tissues compared to normal tissues. Conversely, higher expression was associated with longer overall survival and positively correlated with immunotherapeutic targets.

CONCLUSION

Although these results were derived from analyses, they offer insights into the potential roles of and as biomarkers. Further studies are warranted to validate these biomarkers in retrospective patient cohorts to establish their clinical utility.