Review

Molecular pathology of low malignant bladder transitional cell carcinoma: a current perspective

H.T. Wang and J.W. Chang

Department of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urologic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical, University, HeXi District, TianJin, China

Offprint requests to: Dr. Haitao Wang, Department of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urologic Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, PingJiang Road, HeXi District, TianJin, China. Fax: 00-86-022-2827321. e-mail: peterrock2000@126.com


Summary. Bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) actually has two phenotypes: low malignant and aggressive. Most previous molecular and cytogenetic analyses of bladder cancer were focused on aggressive BTCC. Little is known about the events that lead to the development of low malignant BTCC. This review mainly introduces the concept of two types of bladder tumors and then focuses on the molecular pathology of low malignant BTCC in particular. It is hoped that further understanding of the molecular pathology of low malignant BTCC may provide novel therapies and many other clinical benefits in patients with this disease. Histol Histopathol 20, 147-153 (2005)

Key words: Bladder cancer, Well-differentiated, Oncogene, Tumor suppressor genes, Urothelial hyperplasias

DOI: 10.14670/HH-20.147