Background: Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a tumor with sizable metastases and local recurrence. It
has a worse prognosis than bladder cancer. This study was designed to investigate the urinary potential tumor
markers of UTUC.
Methods: Between January 2008 and January 2009, urine was sampled from 13 patients with UTUC and 20 healthy
adults. The current study identified biomarkers for UTUC using non-fixed volume stepwise weak anion exchange
chromatography for fractionation of urine protein prior to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.
Results: Fifty five differential proteins have been determined by comparing with the 2-DE maps of the urine of
UTUC patients and those of healthy people. Western blotting analysis and immunohistochemistry of tumor tissues
and normal tissues from patients with UTUC were carried out to further verify five possible UTUC biomarkers,
including zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, calreticulin, annexin A2, annexin A3 and haptoglobin. The data of western blot
and immunohistochemical analysis are consistent with the 2-DE data. Combined the experimental data in the urine
and in tumor tissues collected from patients with UTUC, the crucial over-expressed proteins are calreticulin, annexin
A2, and annexin A3.
Conclusions: Calreticulin, annexin A2, and annexin A3 are very likely a panel of biomarkers with potential value for
UTUC diagnosis.
