Loss of E-cadherin expression in recurrent non-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Bladder cancer is the most common malignancy in the urothelial tract. Invasive cancer has a poor prognosis compared to non-invasive cancer, and identifying the cancer type is useful in determining the most appropriate treatment. In this study, the expression ratios of E-cadherin in non-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder were investigated. The goal of the study was to predict possible invasion in the recurrence of these cases. Seventy-two recurrent non-invasive cases of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder were retrospectively analyzed. An immunohistochemical study of E-cadherin was performed of the baseline tissue sections. An evaluation was carried out of the intensity of membranous staining of E-cadherin and the percentage of cells that stained positive. Invasive cancer was identified in the recurrence material of 14 of the 72 urothelial carcinomas of the bladder that were originally non-invasive based on the baseline samples. The rate of invasion in the recurrence material was significantly higher in cases in which the loss of E-cadherin expression was observed. If E-cadherin expression is negative or weak, close clinical follow-up of patients is necessary, even if the initial diagnosis is non-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. This is because the rate of invasion in these cases is higher in recurrent cases.