To investigate the expression of RhoA, RhoB, RhoC, Rac1 and Cdc42 kinases in urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) of the urinary bladder and determine the expression profile of 107 Rho-associated genes, including GTPases, GDIs, GAPs and GEFs. Rho expression was investigated using microarrays, qPCR and Western blotting in 77 UCC specimens with paired normal urothelium. Computational analysis was also performed on Gene Expression Omnibus datasets. Further microarray analysis was carried out for the

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... ression profiling of the Rho-associated genes. RhoB mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in UCC, suggesting a tumour-suppressor role. On the contrary, mRNA of RhoC and protein levels of RhoA, RhoC and Cdc42, respectively, were significantly higher in UCC vs. normal tissue. High Cdc42 mRNA levels correlated with worse overall survival (p=0.027), whereas high RhoB mRNA levels correlated both with better overall (p=0.0258) and cancer-specific (p=0.0272) survival. Computational analysis verified the expression profile of Rho kinases among superficial UCCs, muscle-invasive UCCs and normal tissues. The majority of the Rho-related genes showed over-expression in UCC vs. normal tissue. Alterations in RhoA, RhoB, RhoC, Rac1 and Cdc42 expression play a significant role in the genesis and progression of UCC of the urinary bladder.