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Precision Molecular Pathology of Bladder Cancer pp 65–83Cite as

Molecular Alterations in the Pathogenesis of Bladder Cancer Subtypes and Urothelial Carcinoma Variants

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Abstract

Carcinoma of the urinary bladder exhibits a wide spectrum of morphologies that is characteristic of this disease. Urothelial carcinoma (UCa) represents the most common tumor that develops in the urinary bladder and it is well established that there is remarkable propensity for divergent differentiation in this disease. A number of well-documented variant histologies are commonly encountered in approximately one third of invasive UCa (Amin, Mod Pathol 22: S96–S118, 2009; Linder, et al., J Urol 190: 1692–6, 2013; Shah, et al., Urol Oncol 31: 1650–5, 2013; Moch, et al., World health organization classification of tumours, 2016). These include squamous, glandular, micropapillary, sarcomatoid, small cell/neuroendocrine, clear cell, lymphoepithelioma-like, and plasmacytoid types among others. Pure squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma can also occur in the bladder but are generally rare. In this chapter we will provide an update on the recent molecular developments with particular focus on those related to the variant histologies of bladder cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Hikmat Al-Ahmadie

  2. Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 353 E68th Street, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Gopa Iyer

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  1. Hikmat Al-Ahmadie
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Correspondence to Hikmat Al-Ahmadie .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

    Donna E. Hansel

  2. Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    Seth P. Lerner

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Al-Ahmadie, H., Iyer, G. (2018). Molecular Alterations in the Pathogenesis of Bladder Cancer Subtypes and Urothelial Carcinoma Variants. In: Hansel, D., Lerner, S. (eds) Precision Molecular Pathology of Bladder Cancer. Molecular Pathology Library. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64769-2_4

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