[Expression and significance of FGFR2IIIc in chemoresistant bladder cancer cells].

To investigate the role of fibroblast growth factor receptor-2 (FGFR2) splice variant FGFR2IIIc in the regulation of mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in doxorubicin-resistant bladder cancer cells. A doxorubicin-resistant human bladder cell line (253J/DOX) was generated from the bladder cancer cell line 253J by being continuously exposed to gradually increasing doses of doxorubicin. Chemosensitivity to doxorubicin was determined by MTT assay. The expressions of P-glycoprotein and FGFR2IIIc were evaluated by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Changes in E-cadherin and vimentin were detected by Western blot analysis. Migration ability of 253J and 253J/DOX cells was analyzed by in vitro wound healing assay. The resistant cells, 253J/DOX, were more resistant to doxorubicin than the parent cells. Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis indicated the higher levels of P-glycoprotein and FGFR2IIIc in 253J/DOX cells (P<0.05). Additionally, compared with the 253J cells, 253J/DOX cells presented the upregulation of E-cadherin, the downregulation of vimentin and the inhibition of migration ability. FGFR2IIIc-induced MET in chemoresistant bladder cancer cells may play an important role in the formation of metastatic lesions.