Expression of c-erbB-2 and cytokeratins 7 and 20 in urothelial carcinoma with gland-like lumina.
Urothelial carcinoma with gland-like lumina is an uncommon type of tumor, reported only occasionally in literature. Its diagnosis usually does not offer any difficulties, and its prognosis is determined by the accompanying classic transitional or squamous component. It is important though, not to misdiagnose it as a mixed transitional cell adenocarcinoma. In that respect, features such as the type of epithelium lining, the gland-like structures, as well as the type of luminal mucin have been used to make the diagnosis. Recently, an immunohistochemical panel of antibodies has proven helpful in differentiating primary and metastatic adenocarcinomas of urothelial tract from urothelial carcinoma with gland differentiation. In their series of 16 cases, Tamboli et al included only one case of transitional cell carcinoma with gland differentiation. We present two additional cases of urothelial carcinoma with gland-like lumina in two men, 60 and 79 years old, respectively. Both tumors were grade 2 of Ash-Bergkvist, and the stage was pT(1) in both cases. Immunohistochemical study with cytokeratins 7 and 20, and with c-erbB-2, was performed. Both tumors expressed cytokeratins 7 and 20; c-erbB-2 was only expressed in one, in spite of the same staging. Although some relation has been found in animals between gland-like lumina phenotype and expression of epidermal growth factor (the receptor of which is homologous to c-erbB-2), it seems that this relationship might not be constant in humans.
Services of Anatomic Pathalogy and Urology, Clinica Ponferrada, Ponferrada-Leoa, Spain.
Angel
A
Fernández-Flores
Felix
F
Manzarbeitia
Jesus G
JG
Alonso
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D053554:Keratin-20; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019459:Urothelium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D053554:Keratin-20; D053552:Keratin-7; D007633:Keratins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C507499:KRT20 protein, human; C507497:KRT7 protein, human