Objective   To investigate the roles of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) protein and mRNA in the development of human bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC).     Methods   The expressions of ILK protein and ILK mRNA in specimens from 56 cases of human BTCC and from 30 cases of adjacent normal bladder were detected by immunohistochemistry S-P method and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)

respectively. The correlation of the expressions of ILK protein and mRNA to the clinicopathological parameters of human BTCC was analyzed statistically.     Results   The positive rates of ILK protein and mRNA in malignant specimens were 53.6% (30/56) and 58.9% (33/56)

respectively

while those in the adjacent normal bladder tissue were 10% (3/30) and 13.3% (4/30)

respectively. Significant difference was found in the expressions of ILK protein and mRNA between BTCC and adjacent normal bladder specimens (P0.01). Further statistical analysis showed that the ILK protein and mRNA expressions were correlated to the pathological grades of BTCC (P0.05)

but not to the clinical stage of BTCC (P0.05).     Conclusion   ILK gene transcription and protein expression may be involved in the developmental process of BTCC. ILK might be a new marker for early diagnosis of BTCC and a new target gene for BTCC treatment.