Up-regulation of Plakophilin-2 and Down-regulation of Plakophilin-3 are Correlated With Invasiveness in Bladder Cancer

We conclude that high Pkp2, and low Pkp3, expression is associated with bladder cancer cell invasion and that neither Pkp2 nor Pkp3 is associated with cell proliferation. We further hypothesize that accumulation of Pkp2 and 3 in the cell cytoplasm, rather than their recruitment to the cell membrane, is related to an increased ability of the tumor to invade and metastasize.