c-kit expression in small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: Prognostic and therapeutic implications

Chong Xian Pan, Ximing J. Yang, Antonio Lopez-Beltran, Gregory T. MacLennan, John N. Eble, Michael O. Koch, Timothy D. Jones, Haiqun Lin, Kelly Nigro, Veronica Papavero, Maria Tretiakova, Liang Cheng*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Scopus citations

Abstract

The prognosis for small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder is poor, and strategies for improved therapy are needed. Targeted therapy against the c-kit proto-oncogene has been successful in the management of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. We investigated the expression of c-kit in 52 cases of small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Specimens with more than 10% of cells demonstrating strong membrane staining were considered to have positive immunostaining for c-kit. c-kit expression was detected in 21 of 52 specimens from these patients. Among the 21 specimens, seven had less than 10% staining, and were considered to be negative. Nine had 11-50% staining, and five had more than 50% staining. Overall, 14 of 52 (27%) small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder were positive for c-kit expression. During a median follow-up of 11 months, 60% of the patients died of bladder cancer. No association was found between c-kit expression and survival or other clinicopathologic parameters. Five-year cancer-specific survivals for c-kit-positive and c-kit-negative tumors were 9 and 15%, respectively (P = 0.35). A significant proportion (27%) of small cell carcinomas of the urinary bladder expressed c-kit, suggesting that it may prove useful as a therapeutic target in small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)320-323
Number of pages4
JournalModern Pathology
Volume18
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2005

Keywords

  • Neoplasm
  • Small cell carcinoma
  • Urinary bladder
  • c-kit, prognosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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