microRNA as Noninvasive Biomarkers for Tobacco Smoke Associate Bladder Cancer

Principal Investigator: Xi Yang/Patricia Richter

Funding Mechanism: JV

ID number: C12050/E0751801

Award Date: 1/1/2013

Institution: National Center for Toxicological Research

Recent epidemiological studies have strengthened the association between cigarette smoking and bladder cancer. Changes in cigarette composition over the past 50 years, including increased concentration of β–napthylamine (a known bladder carcinogen) and tobacco-specific nitrosamines, may contribute to the stronger association between cigarette smoking and bladder cancer. However, few biomarkers of smoking-induced bladder cancer exist. microRNA expression patterns found in body fluids (i.e. blood and/or urine) may mirror microRNA changes in bladder tumors and could be potentially be used as noninvasive early biomarkers for bladder cancer diagnosis or to distinguish between bladder cancers in smokers and non-smokers. The goal of this study is to investigate new microRNA biomarkers of bladder cancer that are affected by tobacco product use. Specific aims are: (1) to identify and compare the genome-wide microRNA profiles in serum and urine samples from bladder cancer patients (smokers and non-smokers) and individuals without bladder cancer (smokers and non-smokers) using Next Generation sequencing; (2) to correlate biofluid microRNA biomarkers with changes in tumor specimens from bladder cancer patients; and (3) to identify the differential expression patterns of blood and/or urine microRNA in patients with smoking-associated and non-smoking-associated bladder cancer. Identification and validation of novel biomarkers may inform FDA-CTP’s mission to promote and protect the public health.