Urinary exosomal expression of long non-coding RNAs as diagnostic marker in bladder cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and exosomes have been regarded as components of cell signal transmission that modulate indigenous cellular microenvironments. Exosomes also participate in relocation of functional lncRNAs between cells. In the present study, we evaluated expression of , , , , and lncRNAs in urinary exosomes isolated from transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of bladder, non-malignant urinary disorders, and normal subjects. , , and expression was significantly higher in TCC patients compared to controls (non-malignant or normal samples). However, expression was significantly decreased in TCC patients compared with controls. and expression was significantly lower in cigarette smokers and opium-addicted TCC patients, respectively. On the other hand, expression tended to be higher in opium-addicted TCC patients. The proposed panel of lncRNAs (composed of , and ) had 92% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity for diagnosis of bladder cancer from normal samples. Transcript levels of lncRNAs in urinary exosomes are potential diagnostic bio-markers in bladder cancer.