Background: Extracellular matrix homeostasis is strictly maintained by a coordinated balance between the expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the expression of MMP-9, MMP-2 and its specific inhibitors, are expressed in a reproducible, specific pattern and if the profiles are related to prognosis in Bladder Cancer (BC). Methods: MMP-9, MMP-2 and its specific inhibitors expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in fresh-frozen malignant tissue collected from 40 patients with BC submitted to transurethral resection of bladder. The control group consisted of normal bladder tissue from five patients who had undergone retropubic prostatectomy to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Results: MMP-9 was overexpressed in 59.0 % of patients, and MMP-2, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-14, RECK and IL-8 was underexpressed in most of the patients. Regarding prognostic parameters we observed that high-grade tumors exhibited significantly higher levels of MMP-9 and IL-8 (p = 0.012, p = 0.003). Invasive tumors (pT1-pT2) had higher expression levels of MMP-9 than superficial tumors (pTa) (p = 0.026). The same was noted for IL-8 that was more expressed by invasive tumors (p = 0.015, p = 0.048). Most importantly tumor recurrence was related with higher levels of both MMP-9 (p = 0.003) and IL-8 (p = 0.005). Conclusion: We have demonstrated that the overexpression of MMP-9 and higher expression of IL-8 are related to unfavorable prognostic factors of urothelial bladder cancer and tumor recurrence and may be useful in the follow up of the patients.

Prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa) is based mainly in histological aspects together with PSA serum levels that not always reflect the real aggressive potential of the neoplasia. The micro RNA (miRNA) mir-21 has been shown to regulate invasiveness in cancer through translational repression of the Metaloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor RECK. Our aim is to investigate the levels of expression of RECK and miR-21 in PCa comparing with classical prognostic factors and disease outcome and also test if RECK is a target of miR-21 in in vitro study using PCa cell line.

PD-L1 is a glycoprotein from the family of T-cell co-stimulatory molecules that are constitutively expressed by macrophages. Aberrant expression of PD-L1 is observed in human cancers associated with inhibition of the tumor-directed T-cell immune response. There are few reports in the literature evaluating PD-L1 expression in association to prognosis specifically in renal cell cancer clear cell type (RCC-CC). Immunohistochemistry using a PD-L1 polyclonal antibody was performed on a tissue microarray (TMA) that contained 115 surgical specimens of RCC-CC. Cases were classified based on the absence or presence of staining intensity in the cytoplasm and membranes of the tumor cells. Statistical analysis was used to determine the association of PD-L1 expression with classic prognostic factors and tumor recurrence. PD-L1 expression was positive in 56.5 % of tumors. The univariate analysis showed a correlation between PD-L1 expression and nuclear Fuhrman grade (p = 0.021) and microvascular tumor embolization (p = 0.039). One hundred and four patients were monitored for a mean time of 115.7 months. Seventeen patients (16.3 %) suffered tumor recurrence. Negative outcomes were associated with higher nuclear grade tumors, PD-L1 expression, and the presence of microvascular invasion. Our findings confirm that PD-L1 expression is an important prognostic factor in RCC-CC.

Abnormal miRNA expression has emerged as crucial factors in carcinogenesis and is important in the comprehension of prostate cancer behavior. We determined the correlation of miRNA expression profiles with prostate cancer progression. We studied frozen specimens from 49 patients treated for prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy. We intentionally chose 28 men without and 21 with biochemical recurrence, defined as prostate specific antigen greater than 0.2 ng/ml. The expression of 14 miRNAs was determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. All radical prostatectomy specimens were studied in toto to determine tumor volume, Gleason score and 2002 TNM pathological stage. Benign prostate tissue from benign prostatic hyperplasia served as a control. Four miRNAs were related to tumor recurrence. Using the Cox regression test the risk of recurrence was 3.0, 3.3, 2.7 and 3.4 for high levels of miR-100, miR-145, miR-191 and miR-let7c, respectively. When considering statistically significant clinical variables on univariate analysis of biochemical-free survival, prostate specific antigen and tumor volume, results revealed that miR-100 and tumor volume were independently related to tumor recurrence. A high level of miR-100 is related to biochemical recurrence of localized prostate cancer in patients treated with radical prostatectomy. The role of miR-100 during carcinogenesis must be resolved in future studies to better understand the molecular pathways in which miR-100 is involved. This may open the possibility of using it as a prognostic marker and inspire the development of a target drug.