# ONCOGENE EXPRESSION IN HUMAN BLADDER CANCER

> **NIH NIH R01** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 1988 · $82,275

## Abstract

The major transformation-inducing genes found in human solid tumors are
members of the ras family of cellular oncogenes.  Although less than 10% of
bladder carcinomas have activated ras genes, as demonstrated in the mouse
3T3 assay, we have found elevated ras p21 in all high-grade bladder
carcinomas examined.  In the proposed studies we shall extend the
immunohistochemical analysis of p21 to a large cohort of patients with
"precancerous" and neoplastic bladder lesions, on whom we have extensive
clinical follow-up.  In these sudies we shall attempt to confirm
preliminary work in which we define the pattern of p21 expression found in
normal urothelium and correlated p21 expression with degree of atypia in
dysplastic lesion and histologic grade in carcinomas.  We shall determine
at what stage in the histogenesis of invasive bladder carcinoma p21
expression is increased and if recurrent tumors and metastases evolve a
population of tumor cells which express high levels of p21.  Of particular
importance will be studies correlating p21 expression with tumor grade,
stage and clinical outcome.  Using p21 expression as a phenotypic marker
for malignant potential of urothelial cells, we shall attempt to identify
that subgroup of patients with marked dysplasia and with low grade
papillary carcinomas who are at high risk for the ultimate development of
invasive carcinoma.  Further, we shall assay p21 in urine cells to
determine if this assay is a useful adjunct to conventional urine cytology
in the diagnosis of urinary tract cancer.

In biochemical studies of bladder cancer specimens, we shall determine if a
specific ras gene is consistently expressed and perform quantitative and
qualitative analysis of steady state mRNA levels for that specific ras
gene.  We shall determine whether a normal or altered p21 molecule is
expressed in bladder tumors by analysis of the electrophoretic mobility of
tumor p21 and by analysis of tumor DNA for ras gene mutations at amino acid
positions 12 and 61.  Further, we shall determine if increased expression
of ras p21 is associated with ras gene amplification or a structural
alteration of the ras gene in question.

Therefore, in these studies we shall determine if ras p21 is a relevant
tumor marker in the detection and prognosis of bladder cancer, as well as
determining the specific mechanism of ras gene activation in this common
human cancer.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3178332
- **Project number:** 5R01CA039408-03
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **SAM.gov UEI:** M746VC6XMNH9
- **Principal Investigator:** MICHAEL V VIOLA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $82,275
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-12-01 → 1989-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3178332

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3178332, ONCOGENE EXPRESSION IN HUMAN BLADDER CANCER (5R01CA039408-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3178332. Licensed CC0.

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