Expression of heme oxygenase-1 in human superficial bladder cancer

Objective To investigate the expression profile of heme oxygenase-1 in human superficial bladder cancer.Methods The expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was detected by using immunohistochemical streptavid-in-peroxidase (SP) method in 46 cases of initial onset of superficial bladder cancer [including postoperative recurrence group (n =21) and postoperative no-recurrence group (n =25)],and 8 cases of normal bladder tissues.A comparison wasmade between recurrence group and no-recurrence group,and among the pathological grades.Results The positive rate of HO-1 protein in human bladder carcinoma was 82.6％,significantly higher than that in the normal bladder tissues (12.5％,P ＜0.05).There was significant difference in the expression of HO-1 between tissues of bladder carcinoma without recurrence and tissues of bladder carcinoma with recurrence (P ＜ 0.05).There was significant difference in the expression of HO-1 among the pathological grades (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The HO-1 expression may play an important role in the development,and recurrence of superficial bladder carcinoma. Key words: Superficial bladder carcinoma;  Heme oxygenase-1 ;  Immunohistochemistry