In 2019, the Bladder Cancer Molecular Taxonomy Group (BCMTG) presented a consensus molecular classification comprising six subtypes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The non-luminal subtypes were the most consistent with previous models. Subsequent studies in 2019 have revealed molecular heterogeneity among the luminal subtypes and their possible clinical ramifications.
Key advances
In 2019, the Bladder Cancer Molecular Taxonomy Group put substantial effort into providing a consensus molecular classification comprising six subtypes of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
The consensus classifier contains three luminal subtypes.
In 2019, three studies were published in which the luminal subtype could be subdivided further by either immunohistochemistry, long non-coding RNA expression or pathological upstaging.
Moreover, tumour samples with variant histology (nested or micropapillary) fall into the luminal subgroup but have an aggressive disease course.
Consequently, future subtyping studies should reveal which classification approach is the best for clinical decision-making.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank J. L. Boormans for helpful suggestions on the manuscript and E. A. Gibb for helpful suggestions on the manuscript and personal communication.
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de Jong, J.J., Zwarthoff, E.C. Molecular and clinical heterogeneity within the luminal subtype. Nat Rev Urol 17, 69–70 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-019-0262-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-019-0262-7
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