Tissue and Plasma Endocan and Endoglin Levels in Patients with Bladder Cancer

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare plasma endoglin and endocan levels between bladder cancer patients and the control group. The secondary aim of the study was to compare plasma and tissue endoglin and endocan levels between high grade and low grade bladder cancers. Methods: A total of 36 patients with bladder cancer and 20 patients as control group were included. Eight milliliters of peripheral venous blood sample was taken from both study and control group to determine plasma Endocan and Endoglin levels. A tissue sample of 0.5 cm3 was obtained by cystoscopy and resection of papillary lesion of bladder to determine tissue Endocan and Endoglin levels. Results were compared between bladder cancer and control group. Result: The mean plasma Endoglin levels were 10.2 (4.5-13.7) ng/mL in low grade bladder cancer, 14.6 (8.4-22.3) ng/mL in high grade bladder cancer and 8.8 (6.3-19.4) ng/mL in the control group. The mean plasma Endocan levels were 520.4 (346.9-647.6) ng/L in low grade bladder tumors; 728.5 (311.4-1518.1) ng/L in high grade bladder tumors and 479.9 (140.6-864.7) ng/L in the control group. Plasma Endoglin level of control group was significantly lower than bladder cancer group (p<0.001). Plasma Endocan level was not different between bladder cancer and control group (p=0.117). Conclusions: Plasma Endoglin level was up-regulated in bladder cancer patients whereas plasma Endocan level did not show any difference.