Biomarker Profiling of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Only and with Synchronous or Metachronous Bladder Cancer.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Molecular profiling in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) with synchronous or metachronous urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) is scarce. We intended to assess immunohistochemical (IHC) and genetic differences between UTUC-only and UTUC with synchronous or metachronous UBC (UTUC + UBC) and evaluate the effect of subsequent UBC on the outcome of UTUC patients stratified by luminal-basal subtypes. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of UTUC was divided into UTUC-only (n = 71) and UTUC + UBC (n = 43). IHC expression of cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), CK20, GATA3, and p53 was evaluated to assess relevant subtypes. Genetic characterization comprised TERTp, FGFR3, RAS, and TP53 status. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses estimated the effect of clinicopathological variables and molecular profiles on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of UTUC patients. RESULTS: No meaningful differences were detected among both subgroups according to luminal-basal stratification and genetic analysis. UTUC + UBC was independently associated with a worse PFS when stratified by luminal-basal phenotype (HR 3.570, CI 95% 1.508-8.453, p = 0.004) but with no impact in OS (HR 1.279, CI 95% 0.513-3.190, p = 0.597). CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that both subgroups exhibited equivalent genomic features and luminal-basal subtypes. The involvement of the bladder relates to shorter PFS but does not seem to influence the survival outcome of UTUC, independently of the IHC phenotype.