Association study of the G-protein β3 subunit C825T polymorphism with disease progression in patients with bladder cancer

The T-allele in the GNB3 C825T polymorphism has been associated with increased cell migration, a prerequisite for metastasis. In this study we investigated a potential association of the C825T-allele status and disease progression in patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC). Genotyping of the GNB3 C825T polymorphism was performed in 389 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and in 104 control subjects and clinical follow-up was worked up in 339 patients. Genotype distribution in 389 patients with bladder cancer was comparable to genotype distribution of the control group. There was no association of GNB3 C825T genotype with tumor stage or grade, but follow-up analysis in the subgroup of non-smokers revealed a shorter time to metastasis in 825T-allele carriers compared to individuals homozygous CC. The genotype of the GNB3 C825T polymorphism appears to influence the biological behavior of tumor disease in non-smoking TCC patients. © Springer-Verlag 2005.