Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM: To study the correlation between EGFR gene fragments and nuclear matrix proteins (NMPs) in human bladder transitional cell carcinoma (hBTCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The nuclear matrix proteins were prepared from fresh tissues and T24 culture cells, and total cell proteins was also prepared from fresh tissues of hBTCC. Genomic DNA and nuclear matrix DNA (high concentration sail and gradient DNaseⅠtreated) were separated from hBTCC tissues. Two pair primers were synthesized according to the cDNA sequence of EGFR gene.Two EGFR fragments were amplified by PCR using the two pair primers in genomic DNA and different nuclear matrix DNA.The positive fragments with primersⅠwere also sequenced. The binding capacity of EGFR gene to nuclear matrix in bladder cancer was also measured by Southwestern Blot assay using single stranded end labeled probes prepared by PCR product Ⅱ. RESULTS: Both genomic DNA and nuclear matrix DNA (NM DNA0, NM DNA25 ,NM DNA50 ,NM DNA100) of human bladder carcinoma could amplify 110 bp positive fragment with primersⅡ. However both genomic DNA and nuclear matrix DNA showed a 940 bp positive fragment with primersⅠexcept NM DNA100. The sequence of 940 bp was identical to the DNA sequence of EGFR gene. Southwestern blot analysis demonstrated that EGFR gene fragment (3901-4010nt) was bound to an about 60 kD nuclear matrix protein in both NMPs (tissues and T24 cells) and total cell protein of bladder carcinoma tissues, but not in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSION: Active EGFR gene is strongly bound to the nuclear matrix and nuclear matrix proteins.Nuclear matrix proteins may regulate the high expression of EGFR gene including the course of transcription and post-transcription and/or translation in the human bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

Key words: epidermal growth factor receptor, nuclear matrix proteins, bladder transitional cell carcinoma