Clinical and Prognostic Significance of Protocadherin-10 (PCDH10) Promoter Methylation in Bladder Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and prognostic significance of protocadherin-10 (PCDH10) promoter methylation in serum-derived DNA from patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: PCDH10 promoter methylation status was determined using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction of DNA extracted from serum of patients with bladder cancer, and age- and sex-matched controls. Clinical and pathological details of bladder cancer were recorded. RESULTS: PCDH10 promoter methylation was detected in 59/117 (50.4%) of patients with bladder cancer, and none of 37 (0%) controls. Methylation was significantly associated with advanced stage (T-2 - T-4), high grade (G(3)), tumour recurrence and larger tumour size (> 3 cm). In addition, methylation was associated with significantly worse survival and was an independent predictor of overall survival. CONCLUSION: Serum-based analysis of PCDH10 promoter methylation may represent a useful noninvasive biomarker of malignant behaviour and outcome in bladder cancer.