Immunohistochemistry-Based Molecular Profiling of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Analysis of 100 Consecutive Cases with Morphological Correlation

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to profile the molecular variants of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) based on immunohistochemical analysis and to make a correlation with morphological characteristics in a series of 100 consecutive patients. <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective single-center study was conducted on 100 consecutive cases of MIBC (2021-2024). A selected immunohistochemical (IHC) panel (including CK5/6, CK20, and p16) was applied in all cases to classify the tumors into known molecular variants (luminal papillary, luminal non-specified, luminal unstable, stroma-rich, basal/squamous, neuroendocrine-like). <b>Results</b>: Seven molecular subtypes are identified: basal (33%), luminal papillary (24%), luminal unstable (16%), luminal non-specified (10%), basoluminal (double-positive) (9%), neuroendocrine-like (double-negative with neuroendocrine morphology) (6%), and stroma-rich (2%). This distribution largely matches published data (Consensus Classification and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)), with minor differences (e.g., a lower share of the stroma-rich variant). A strong correlation is found between the histological subtypes of some tumors and their molecular variant (χ<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> < 0.001): for example, all cases of urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation are basal, micropapillary tumors are entirely luminal, and small-cell carcinomas are neuroendocrine-like. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results demonstrate that the morphological subtype of urothelial carcinoma largely predetermines the molecular profile. Combining classic histopathology with IHC-based profiling allows for a more complete characterization of the tumor and aids prognosis and personalized treatment in MIBC.

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Journal
Medical Sciences
Published
2025-09-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/medsci13030202
Primary Topic
Bladder and Urothelial Cancer Treatments
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article
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article

Immunohistochemistry-Based Molecular Profiling of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Analysis of 100 Consecutive Cases with Morphological Correlation

Elitsa Kraevska, S Popovska
Medical Sciences
Bladder and Urothelial Cancer Treatments
article

Immunohistochemistry-Based Molecular Profiling of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Analysis of 100 Consecutive Cases with Morphological Correlation

Elitsa Kraevska, S Popovska
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: This study aimed to profile the molecular variants of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) based on immunohistochemical analysis and to make a correlation with morphological characteristics in a series of 100 consecutive patients. <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective single-center study was conducted on 100 consecutive cases of MIBC (2021-2024). A selected immunohistochemical (IHC) panel (including CK5/6, CK20, and p16) was applied in all cases to classify the tumors into known molecular variants (luminal papillary, luminal non-specified, luminal unstable, stroma-rich, basal/squamous, neuroendocrine-like). <b>Results</b>: Seven molecular subtypes are identified: basal (33%), luminal papillary (24%), luminal unstable (16%), luminal non-specified (10%), basoluminal (double-positive) (9%), neuroendocrine-like (double-negative with neuroendocrine morphology) (6%), and stroma-rich (2%). This distribution largely matches published data (Consensus Classification and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)), with minor differences (e.g., a lower share of the stroma-rich variant). A strong correlation is found between the histological subtypes of some tumors and their molecular variant (χ<sup>2</sup>, <i>p</i> < 0.001): for example, all cases of urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation are basal, micropapillary tumors are entirely luminal, and small-cell carcinomas are neuroendocrine-like. <b>Conclusions</b>: The results demonstrate that the morphological subtype of urothelial carcinoma largely predetermines the molecular profile. Combining classic histopathology with IHC-based profiling allows for a more complete characterization of the tumor and aids prognosis and personalized treatment in MIBC.

Medical SciencesVol. 13(3)
Medical University Pleven (BG)
Openalex Percentile: Top 59%
Bladder and Urothelial Cancer Treatments
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Immunohistochemistry-Based Molecular Profiling of Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Analysis of 100 Consecutive Cases with Morphological Correlation — Elitsa Kraevska, S Popovska · Medical Sciences (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS