Phases of tight junction barrier disruption during transurothelial migration of invasive urothelial cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Bladder cancer is characterised by its multifocal nature and a high recurrence, yet the underlying mechanisms of these phenomena remain only partially understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate transurothelial invasion of urothelial cancer cells as a potential mechanism for dissemination of bladder cancer and to identify the key molecules involved in urothelial barrier disruption. Using confocal and electron microscopy, we were able to show that within a 24-hour timeframe muscle-invasive urothelial cancer cells T24 adhere to the partially differentiated normal urothelial in vitro model and initially cause localised disruption of the tight junctions between urothelial cells. Subsequently, urothelial cells separate and individual T24 cells migrate paracellularly through the ur

SUBMITTER: Kuret T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12000480 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature