Bladder carcinoma is the 9th most prevalent cancer worldwide. Mostcases are diagnosed in men. Bladder carcinoma is categorized into three disticly different categories; non- muscle invasive, muscle invasive and metastatic bladder carcinoma. Vast majority of all bladder carcinomas are diagnosed as urothelial carcinoma (UC). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), adenocarcinoma and other rare types represent the remaining 10%. In Egypt, bladder carcinoma is ranked as the most prevalent cancer . The most important etiological causes for such disease in Egypt are festation by S. haematopium and Cigarette smoking. Cortactin is a 63-65 kDa protein, encoded by a gene located on 11q13. Cortactin activates and binds to Arp2/3 and stabilizes the branched Actin networks. Invadopodia are Actin-rich cellular protrusions, associated with enhanced proteolytic activities in the invasive regions of carcinomas. it is also incorporated in invadopodia, Cortactin expression is enhanced once or rapidly following secretions of transmembrane metalloproteinase, MT1-MMP. Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteolytic cleavage develops soon after secretion of MT1-MMP and Cortactin. increased secretion of Cortactin was studied in a lot of malignant tumors, including melanoma, mammary, pancreatic duct, hepatocellular and colorectal adenocarcinomas.
Urothelial carcinoma is the ninth most common malignant neoplasm worldwide. nearly in all human tumors, actin filaments are involved in lamellopodia or cellular extensions. Cortactin is involved in fixing the actin assembly to enhance cellular penetration. Assessment of Cortactin expression in invasive and non-invasive urothelial carcinoma and recording any significant different expressions may have benefits in developing more effective anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.