Introdução: As moléculas de adesão celular (MAC) participam da interação entre o epitélio e a matriz extracelular (MEC) que são importantes para o desenvolvimento normal da célula. Alguns estudos têm revelado que alterações na expressão das MAC têm implicações no processo de carcinogênese. Nosso objetivo foi estudar a influencia da expressão da E-caderina e cateninas por imuno-histoquímica (IH) na previsão prognóstica de pacientes com carcinoma urotelial do trato urinário superior submetidos à cirurgia. Material e métodos: Avaliamos os espécimes de 20 pacientes com carcinoma urotelial da pelve renal e ureter tratados com nefroureterectomia ou ureterectomia com intenção curativa entre junho de 1997 e janeiro de 2007, todas realizadas pelo mesmo cirurgião (MS). A expressão das MAC foi avaliada através de IH pela técnica de microarranjo tecidual ou tissue microarray (TMA), e correlacionada com as características anatomopatológicas do tumor e sobrevida dos pacientes Resultados: Observamos uma relação entre a expressão de E-caderina com a recidiva da doença. Dos tumores com expressão forte de E-caderina, 85,7% sofreram recidiva contra 50,0% daqueles com moderada expressão (p=0,014). Também houve diferença na sobrevida livre de doença, sendo que aqueles com expressão forte evidenciaram media de sobrevida livre de doença de 49,1 meses, enquanto aqueles com expressão moderada ou ausente sofreram média de 83,9 meses (p=0,011). A ausência de expressão de -catenina se relacionou com maior frequência de tumores com mais de 3cm (p=0,003). Conclusões: Demonstramos que a imuno-expressão da E-caderina e - catenina estão relacionadas com recidiva e tamanho tumoral no carcinoma urotelial do trato urinário alto, podendo constituir novos marcadores prognósticos nessa neoplasia / Introduction: The cell adhesion molecules (CAM) participating in the interaction between epithelium and extracellular matrix (ECM) that are important for normal development of the cell. Some studies have shown that changes in the expression of CAM have implications in the process of carcinogenesis. We studied the E-cadherin and catenins expression profile by immunohistochemistry in patients with urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tract underwent surgery. Materials and Methods: We evaluated specimens from 20 patients with urothelial carcinoma of renal pelvis and ureter treated with nephroureterectomy or ureterectomy between June 1997 and January 2007, all performed by one surgeon (MS). The expression of CAM was evaluated by tissue microarray technique (TMA). Results: We observed a relation between E-cadherin expression with disease recurrence. Tumors with strong expression of E-cadherin, 85.7% recurrence compared to 50.0% of those with moderate expression and 0.0% with weak expression (p = 0.014). There was also a difference in disease-free survival, and those with strong expression recurrence a median time of 49.1 months while those with moderate expression recurrence a median time of 83.9 months (p = 0.011). The absence of -catenin expression was associated with tumors larger than 3 cm (p = 0.003). Conclusions: We demonstrate that the immuno-expression of E-cadherin and -catenin are related to recurrence and tumor size in urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tract, may be new prognostic markers in these disease

OBJETIVOS: Estudar variáveis anatomopatológicas relacionadas à progressão tumoral em carcinomas uroteliais primários de bexiga e sua associação com a imunoexpressão de metaloproteinases de matriz (MMPs) - 2, -9 e -14 no epitélio e no estroma dos tumores primários e nas metástases linfonodais. MÉTODOS: Sessenta e um casos de carcinomas uroteliais musculoinvasivos ou localmente avançados primários da bexiga operados no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP e no Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, sendo 34 casos com metástase para linfonodo regional, foram caracterizados quanto ao gênero, idade, tamanho, focalidade, grau histológico, tipo/configuração neoplásica, tipo papilífero da neoplasia, padrão arquitetural de invasão tumoral, grau de atipia nuclear, componente sarcomatoide, diferenciações escamosa e glandular, variante histológica, invasões linfovascular e perineural, carcinoma in situ, estádio do tumor primário, metástase para linfonodo regional, tamanho da metástase e extensão extranodal. Amostras teciduais de 1,0 mm foram dispostas em micromatrizes teciduais (TMA) para pesquisa imuno-histoquímica (IH) das enzimas MMP-2, MMP-9 e MMP-14. A expressão IH das MMPs foi graduada em uma escala semiquantitativa de 0 (ausência de expressão) até 20 (maior expressão). As associações entre a imunoexpressão das MMPs de forma global, no epitélio e estroma do tumor primário e na metástase linfonodal com as variáveis anatomopatológicas foram avaliadas através do teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson, sendo consideradas significativas ao nível de p<0,05. RESULTADOS: Trinta e seis, 57 e 60 casos do tumor primário foram positivos para MMP-2, MMP-9 e MMP-14, respectivamente. Nas metástases linfonodais, 20, 27 e 26 casos foram positivos para MMP-2, MMP-9 e MMP-14, respectivamente. A imunoexpressão global de MMP-2 no tumor primário mostrou-se associada com o padrão arquitetural de invasão (p=0,022) e sua expressão no estroma com o grau de atipia nuclear (p=0,032) e a porcentagem de componente sarcomatoide (p=0,003). A imunoexpressão global de MMP-9 no tumor primário mostrou-se associada com diferenciação escamosa (p=0,033). O padrão arquitetural de invasão relacionou-se com a expressão de MMP-9 no epitélio (p=0,043) e no estroma (p=0,044). A expressão de MMP-9 no estroma mostrou-se associada com o grau de atipia nuclear (p=0,031), componente sarcomatoide (p=0,036) e com a porcentagem desse componente no tumor primário (p=0,013). O estádio tumoral agrupado pT2+pT3 vs pT4 demonstrou associação com a MMP-9 expressa no epitélio (p=0,049). Para a MMP-14, o padrão arquitetural de invasão demonstrou associação significativa com a imunoexpressão global (p=0,022) e no epitélio tumoral (p=0,045). A porcentagem de componente sarcomatoide relacionou-se ainda com a expressão estromal de MMP-14 (p<0,001). Considerando a imunoexpressão de MMPs apenas na metástase linfonodal, houve associação significativa da MMP-9 com o tipo de variante histológica do tumor (p=0,021) e da expressão de MMP-14 com a porcentagem de componente sarcomatoide no tumor primário (p=0,017). CONCLUSÃO: O estudo da imunoexpressão de MMP-2, MMP-9 e MMP-14 em amostras organizadas em TMA, tanto no epitélio como no estroma dos carcinomas uroteliais de bexiga e nas metástases de linfonodos regionais, demonstrou associações estatísticas com características anatomopatológicas reconhecidas como de prognóstico ruim para essas neoplasias, indicando a ação dessas enzimas na transição epitélio-mesênquima e nas etapas de progressão e metástase dos carcinomas uroteliais / OBJECTIVES: To study morphological features related to tumor progression in urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and its association with immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) -2, -9 and -14 in epithelial and stromal cells of primary tumor and regional lymph node metastases. METHODS: Sixty-one cases of muscle-invasive or locally advanced urothelial carcinomas of the bladder operated on Clinic\'s Hospital of Faculty Medicine Sao Paulo University and the Cancer Institute of the State of Sao Paulo, with 34 cases showing regional lymph nodes metastases, were characterized regarding gender, age, tumor size, multifocality, histological grade, neoplastic type/configuration, papillary type, architectural pattern of invasive tumor, nuclear atypia, sarcomatoid component, squamous and glandular diffentiation, histological variants, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, carcinoma in situ, tumor stage, metastases to regional lymph nodes, metastases size and extranodal extension. Tissue samples of 1.0 mm were arranged in tissue microarrays blocks (TMA) for IHC detection of MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14. The grading of expression of MMPs was determined to a semiquantitative scale from 0 (absence) to 20 (higher expression). The associations between the IHC global expression of MMPs, in epithelium and in stromal cells of the primary tumor and in the lymph node metastases with the morphological features were obtained through Pearson\'s chi-square (significant at p<0.05). RESULTS: Thirty-six, 57 and 60 cases of primary tumor were positive for MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14 respectively. In the lymph nodes metastases, 20, 27 and 26 cases were positive for MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14 respectively. The global IHC expression of MMP-2 in primary tumor has been associated with the architectural pattern of invasion (p=0.022). The expression in stromal cells were correlated with the degree of nuclear atypia (p=0.032) and the percentage of sarcomatoid component (p=0.003). The IHC expression of MMP-9 in primary tumor has been associated with squamous differentiation (p=0.033). The architectural pattern of invasion was related to the expression of MMP-9 in epithelium (p=0.043) and in the stroma (p=0.044). Expression of MMP-9 in the stroma was associated with the degree of nuclear atypia (p=0.031), sarcomatoid component (p=0.036) and the percentage of this component in primary tumor (p=0.013). The grouped tumoral stage pT2+pT3 vs pT4 showed association with MMP-9 expressed in epithelium (p=0.049). For MMP-14, the architectural pattern of invasion showed significant association with global IHC expression (p=0.022) and tumor epithelium (p=0.045). The percentage of sarcomatoid component related to the estromal expression of MMP-14 (p<0.001). Considering the IHC expression of MMPs in lymph nodes metastases, there was a significant association between MMP-9 with the type of histological variants (p=0.021) and the expression of MMP-14 with the percentage of sarcomatoid component in primary tumor (p=0.017). CONCLUSION: The study of IHC expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-14 in bladder carcinoma samples arranged in TMA, both in epithelium and in stromal cells and regional lymph nodes metastases, demonstrated significant association with morphological features recognized as prognostically important for these tumors. These findings herald the importance of action of these enzymes in epithelialmesenchymal transition, providing basis for the understanding of tumoral progression and metastases in urothelial carcinoma

Σκοπος της μελέτης είναι να συγκρίνει τις απλές μεταλλικές ενδοπροθέσεις (stents) με τις εσωτερικά και εξωτερικά επικαλυπτόμενες μεταλλικές ενδοπροθέσεις σε πειραματόζωο χοίρο. Τοποθετήθηκαν μεταλλικά stents σε 9 θηλυκούς χοίρους που ζύγιζαν 25-30 κιλά. Τοποθετήθηκαν stent σε 18 ουρητήρες είτε στον δεξιό είτε στον αριστερό ουρητήρα. Σε έξι ουρητήρες τοποθεητήθηκε ενδοπρόθεση Wallstent (Schneider,Zurich,Switzerland)σε έξι τοποθετήθηκε Passager stent (Βoston Scientific, Natick,MA,USA)και σε έξι Corvita endoluminal graft- CEG(Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA). Εγινε έλεγχος της βατότητας με νεφροστομογραφία 24ώρες και 21ημέρες μετά την τοποθέτηση. Σε τεσσερεις περιπτώσεις το Passager stent μετανάστευσε στην ουροδόχο κύστη με αποτέλεσμα την ουρητηρική απόφραξη. Σε όλες τις άλλες περιπτώσεις η ροή των ούρων ήταν φυσιολογική. Το Wallstent stent προκάλεσε ήπια φλεγμονώδη αντίδραση και μεταπλασία του ουροθηλίου; Το CEG stent πιο έντονη αντίδραση και τέλος την πίο έντονη φλεγμονώδη αντίδραση προκάλεσε το Passager stent με συνοδό νέκρωση του ουροθηλίου. Τα επικαλλυμένα stents δεν εμφάνισαν ουροθηλιακή υπερπλασία στην έσω επιφάνεια του stent. Τα πειραματικά αποτελέσματα δείχνουν ότι το απλό Wallstent stent προκαλεί λιγότερη φλεγμονώδη αντίδραση των παρακείμενων ιστών σε σύγκριση με τα επικαλλυμένα stents. Απο την αλλη πλευρά τα επικαλυπτόμενα stents περιορίζουν σημaντικά την ουροθηλιακή υπερπλασία αλλα έχουν την τάση να μεταναστεύουν προς την ουροδόχο κύστη. / We report out experience with the use of metallic self expandable and balloon expandable stents for the treatment of malignant ureteral obstruction. We treated 12 consecutive patients with malignant ureteral obstruction, for a total of 14 ureters with stents placed. We placed metallic balloon exspandable stents in 6 patients and self-expandable metallic stents in the remaining 6. mean patient age was 65 years and mean followup was 9 months.(range 8 to 16). Of the ureters 11 were patent without any additional manipulations during the followup of 8 to 16 months. Secondary interventions were needed in 3 cases because of obstructive urothelial hyperplastic reaction,tumor ingrowth and local recurrence of the primary cancer invading the upper end of the stent. Two patients died 2 and 10 months after placement of the stent. Both types of metal stents have advantages and disadvantages that must be balanced against each other when choosing the ideal device for the treatment of obstruction. Implantation of a metal self-expanding or balloon expanding stent is safe and effective for the palliative treatment of malignant ureteral obstruction in late stage cancer patient.

Objectifs: Les données provenant des centres de soins tertiaires suggèrent que le taux de mortalité péri-opératoire (MPO) après cystectomie notés pour les patients âgés (septuagénaires et octogénaires) n’excède pas celle des patients plus jeunes. Toutefois, les données provenant de la communauté démontrent un phénomène inverse. Spécifiquement, la MPO est plus élevés chez les ainés. Dans cette thèse nous allons présenter une réévaluation contemporaine du taux de MPO après cystectomie. Méthodes: Entre 1988 et 2006, 12722 cystectomies radicales pour le carcinome urothéliale de la vessie ont été enregistrées dans la banque de données SEER. Le taux de MPO a été évalué dans les analyses de régression logistique univariées et multivariées à 90 jours après cystectomie radicale. Les covariables incluaient: le sexe, l’ethnie, l’année de chirurgie, la région d’origine du patient ainsi que le grade et le stade de la tumeur. Résultats: Parmi tous les patients, 4480 étaient des septuagénaires (35.2%) et 1439 étaient des octogénaires (11.3%). Le taux de MPO à 90 jours était de 4% pour la cohorte entière vs. 2% pour les patients moins de 69 ans vs. 5.4% pour les septuagénaires vs. 9.2% pour les octogénaires. Dans les analyses de régression logistiques multivariées, les septuagénaires (OR=2.80; <0.001) et les octogénaires (OR=5.02; <0.001) avaient reçu un taux de MPO plus augmenté que les patients moins de 70 ans après une cystectomie radicale. Conclusion: Cette analyse épidémiologique basée sur les donnés le plus contemporaines démontre que l’âge avancée représente un facteur de risque pour un taux de MPO plus élevé. / Objective Data from tertiary care centers suggest that the perioperative mortality (POM) after radical cystectomy (RC) is not different in septuagenarian or octogenarian patients, compared to younger individuals. Conversely, population-based data state otherwise. We revisited this topic in a large contemporary population-based cohort. Methods Between 1988 and 2006, 12722 radical cystectomies were performed for urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder (UCUB) in 17 Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries. Of those 4480 were aged 70-79 and 1439 were 80 years and older. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models tested 90-day mortality (90dM) after radical cystectomy. Covariates consisted of gender, race, year of surgery, SEER registry, histological grade and stage. Results Of all 12722 patients, 4480 (35.2%) were septuagenarian and 1439 (11.3%) were octogenarian. The overall 90dM rate was 4% for the entire population, 2% for patients aged 69 years or younger, 5.4% for septuagenarian patients and 9.2% for octogenarian patients. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, septuagenarian (OR= 2.80; <0.001) and octogenarian (OR= 5.02; <0.001) age increased the risk of 90dM after RC. Conclusions In this population-based analysis, POM was between 3 and 5-fold higher respectively in septuagenarian and octogenarian patients which is higher in tertiary care centers. This information needs to be included in informed consent considerations, specifically if RC will not be performed at a tertiary care center.

Orientador: Maria Luiza Cotrim Sartor de Oliveira / Resumo: Ratos Wistar expostos por dois anos ao diuron (3-(3,4-diclorofenil)-1,1-dimetilureia) produto técnico (PT) à 2500ppm pela ração desenvolveram alta incidência de tumores uroteliais, sendo esse herbicida classificado pela U.S. Environmental Protection Agency como "provável cancerígeno para o homem''. Durante a última década, nosso laboratório tem realizado estudos sobre a toxicidade urotelial do diuron PT fornecido pela ração a ratos Wistar machos. Porém, o diuron na forma de produto formulado (PF) ou comercial, composto por 50% de diuron PT e 50% de ingredientes inertes, não tem sido avaliado em ratos. Em lagartos P. sicula machos expostos ao diuron PF à 50% na concentração de 1100ppm na ração ou na água de beber, durante 3 semanas, houve toxicidade direta no sistema reprodutivo com alteração na espermatogênese, morfologia do epidídimo e diminuição dos níveis plasmáticos dos hormônios sexuais, sendo os efeitos mais severos nos grupos que receberam diuron na água de beber. O presente estudo objetivou comparar o potencial tóxico do diuron PF ou PT à 1250ppm oferecido pela ração ou água de beber no urotélio e nos parâmetros reprodutivos de ratos. Cinquenta ratos Wistar machos de seis semanas de idade foram distribuídos em cinco grupos (ração basal, ração com PF, água de beber com PF, ração com PT, água potável com PT) e expostos ao diuron à 1250ppm por 13 semanas. Na eutanásia foram avaliados a morfologia, concentração, motilidade e viabilidade dos espermatozoides. Os rins, fígad... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Wistar rats exposed during two years to 2500ppm dietary diuron technical product (TP) (3-(3,4- dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) developed high incidence of urothelial tumors, being classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a ‘‘known/likely human carcinogen’’. During the last decades our laboratory conducted studies on the urothelial toxicity of the diuron (TP) provided through diet to male Wistar rats. The diuron formulated product (FP) composed by 50% diuron TP and 50% inert ingredients, has not been evaluated in rats. The diuron (FP) was harmful to reproductive system of male P. sicula lizards exposed to 1100ppm during 3 weeks; the toxic effects were more prominent in the groups receiving diuron FP in drinking water. This study aimed to compare the potential toxicity of diuron TP or FP 1250ppm offered through diet or drinking water on the urothelium and reproductive parameters of rats. Fifty six-week old Wistar male rats were allocated to five groups (basal diet, FP diet, FP drinking water, TP diet, TP drinking water) and exposed to 1250ppm diuron for 13 weeks. At the end, body weight and weight of kidneys, liver, spleen, testes and epididymis, histopathology of the kidneys and testes and sperm parameters were evaluated. Urinary bladders were bisected and processed for histologic and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analyses. At the end of the study, all groups exposed to diuron had decreased body weight gain compared to control greater than 10%, indicat... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Introdução: As moléculas de adesão celular (MAC) participam da interação entre o epitélio e a matriz extracelular (MEC) que são importantes para o desenvolvimento normal da célula. Alguns estudos têm revelado que alterações na expressão das MAC têm implicações no processo de carcinogênese. Nosso objetivo foi estudar a influencia da expressão da E-caderina e cateninas por imuno-histoquímica (IH) na previsão prognóstica de pacientes com carcinoma urotelial do trato urinário superior submetidos à cirurgia. Material e métodos: Avaliamos os espécimes de 20 pacientes com carcinoma urotelial da pelve renal e ureter tratados com nefroureterectomia ou ureterectomia com intenção curativa entre junho de 1997 e janeiro de 2007, todas realizadas pelo mesmo cirurgião (MS). A expressão das MAC foi avaliada através de IH pela técnica de microarranjo tecidual ou tissue microarray (TMA), e correlacionada com as características anatomopatológicas do tumor e sobrevida dos pacientes Resultados: Observamos uma relação entre a expressão de E-caderina com a recidiva da doença. Dos tumores com expressão forte de E-caderina, 85,7% sofreram recidiva contra 50,0% daqueles com moderada expressão (p=0,014). Também houve diferença na sobrevida livre de doença, sendo que aqueles com expressão forte evidenciaram media de sobrevida livre de doença de 49,1 meses, enquanto aqueles com expressão moderada ou ausente sofreram média de 83,9 meses (p=0,011). A ausência de expressão de -catenina se relacionou com maior frequência de tumores com mais de 3cm (p=0,003). Conclusões: Demonstramos que a imuno-expressão da E-caderina e - catenina estão relacionadas com recidiva e tamanho tumoral no carcinoma urotelial do trato urinário alto, podendo constituir novos marcadores prognósticos nessa neoplasia / Introduction: The cell adhesion molecules (CAM) participating in the interaction between epithelium and extracellular matrix (ECM) that are important for normal development of the cell. Some studies have shown that changes in the expression of CAM have implications in the process of carcinogenesis. We studied the E-cadherin and catenins expression profile by immunohistochemistry in patients with urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tract underwent surgery. Materials and Methods: We evaluated specimens from 20 patients with urothelial carcinoma of renal pelvis and ureter treated with nephroureterectomy or ureterectomy between June 1997 and January 2007, all performed by one surgeon (MS). The expression of CAM was evaluated by tissue microarray technique (TMA). Results: We observed a relation between E-cadherin expression with disease recurrence. Tumors with strong expression of E-cadherin, 85.7% recurrence compared to 50.0% of those with moderate expression and 0.0% with weak expression (p = 0.014). There was also a difference in disease-free survival, and those with strong expression recurrence a median time of 49.1 months while those with moderate expression recurrence a median time of 83.9 months (p = 0.011). The absence of -catenin expression was associated with tumors larger than 3 cm (p = 0.003). Conclusions: We demonstrate that the immuno-expression of E-cadherin and -catenin are related to recurrence and tumor size in urothelial carcinoma of upper urinary tract, may be new prognostic markers in these disease

Sur la seule base de critères cliniques et anatomopathologiques, l’évolution des tumeurs superficielles de la vessie (TSV) est imprévisible. Aucun marqueur ne permet, à ce jour, l’identification des tumeurs à fort potentiel de récidive et d’évolution vers des formes agressives. Dans une première partie, nous avons étudié, chez 127 patients, le polymorphisme des microsatellites dans les cellules urinaires pour la mise en évidence de pertes d'hétérozygotie (LOH, Loss Of Heterozygosity) et 2- en tant que marqueur de suivi. Les résultats ont été comparés à la cytologie urinaire : la sensibilité des LOH est nettement supérieure à celle de la cytologie dans les TSV. La présence de LOH au niveau de TP53 et des marqueurs du chromosome 9p est associée à un risque accru de récidive. Parmi les patients ayant récidivé, l’étude des LOH était positive dans 78% des prélèvements urinaires. Dans 20% des cas, les LOH se sont positivées avant la récidive visible à la cystoscopie. Dans une deuxième partie, nous avons développé une technique urinaire quantitative rapide pour l’étude des profils de méthylation de promoteur de 5 gènes suppresseurs de tumeur. Les résultats prometteurs (sensibilité=62%) de la qPCR-HRM sont corrélés à la technique de référence et pourraient être améliorés en élargissant le panel de gènes étudiés. L’analyse des altérations génétiques et épigénétiques améliore la compréhension des mécanismes de la carcinogenèse dans les carcinomes urothéliaux. Ces altérations pourraient être utilisées comme marqueurs diagnostiques et pronostiques. La biologie moléculaire pourrait trouver toute sa place dans la prise en charge de cette pathologie. / On the basis of clinical and pathological criteria, the evolution of superficial bladder tumours (SBT) is unpredictable. Currently, no marker exists permitting the identification of tumours with high potential for recurrence and progression to more aggressive forms. Firstly, we looked for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at microsatellite polymorphisms in the bladder cells of 127 patients, with the aim of identifying a marker potentially useful in 1) diagnosis and prognosis and 2) the monitoring of patients following trans-urethral resection. Compared to urine cytology, the sensitivity of LOH detection was significantly higher for SBT. The presence of LOH at TP53 and markers of chromosome 9p was associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Among the patients who relapsed, results of LOH analysis were positive in 78% of urine samples, 20% of which were positive before the relapse was detected by cystoscopy. Secondly, we developed a technique for the rapid and quantitative urinary analysis of patterns of promoter methylation of 5 tumour suppressor genes. The promising results (sensitivity of 62%) of the qPCR-HRM correlate well with the gold standard and could be improved by expanding the panel of genes studied. Analysis of genetic and epigenetic alterations improves the understanding of mechanisms of carcinogenesis in urothelial carcinomas. These alterations could be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers. Molecular biology could therefore prove useful in the management of this pathology.

Aristolochic acids (AA) are human carcinogens which have also very strong nephrotoxic properties. A mixture of AA is present in Aristolochiacae plant species. These plants were and still are used in traditional medicine in some countries, particularly in Asia. Aristolochic acids participate in development of two types of nephropathies. The first disease is designated as Aristolochic Acid Nephropathy (AAN), the second one is Balkan Endemic Nephropathy (BEN). Both nephropathies are associated with urothelial malignancies, which are caused by AA. One of the common features of ANN and BEN is that not all individuals exposed to AA suffer from nephropathy and tumour development. One cause for these different responses may be individual differences in the activities and expression levels of the enzymes catalyzing the biotransformation of AAI, the major toxic component of AA contained in Aristolochia species. Detailed knowledge of enzymes which participate in metabolism of AAI may contribute to elucidation of inter-individual susceptibility to AAN, BEN and later urothelial malignancies. Aristolochic acid I is either oxidative detoxicated or reductive activated by biotransformation enzymes. Reductive bioactiovation of AAI leads to formation of covalent AA-DNA adducts in organism which result in producing of...

Aristolochic acids (AA) have been considered as toxicants of plants which were found in plants of the family Aristolochiaceae. The most abundant acids in mentioned plants are aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII). AA have been considered as causes kidney disease called Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). AAN was initially discovered in patients of one Belgian clinic in Brussels specialized on treatment of patients leading to a decrease in their body weight. The first name of this disease was Chinese herb nephropathy (CHN). Later, it was discovered that one component of herbal preparation was changed by a mistake with the Aristolochiaceae plant. The second type of renal disease caused by AA was discovered in populations of countries along the Danube river, called as Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), which was probably caused by the contamination of grains with plants containing AA. These renal diseases (AAN and BEN) are often associated with development of upper urothelial cancer (UUC). AA (AAI + AAII) in organisms are subject to biotransformation leading to its reductive activation or oxidative detoxification. Both cytosolic enzymes [NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase] and microsomal enzymes [cytochromes P450, NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase] participate in their reduction. The...

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar características clínico-patológicas com ênfase na presença de variantes histológicas (VH) nos carcinomas uroteliais da bexiga e nas metástases linfonodais (ML). Caracterizar perfis imuno-histoquímicos relacionados aos subtipos moleculares e verificar suas associações clínico-patológicas. MÉTODOS: 183 carcinomas uroteliais de alto grau músculo-invasivos submetidos a cistectomia radical no Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, HCFMUSP ou Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz foram caracterizados quanto ao gênero, idade, tamanho, focalidade, configuração neoplásica, necrose, invasões angiolinfática e perineural, VH, carcinoma in situ, infiltrado inflamatório peri e intratumoral, estádio, margem cirúrgica, ML e VH na metástase. Resultados semi-quantitativos da pesquisa imuno-histoquímica (IH) de CK20 e GATA3 (associados ao subtipo luminal) e CK5, SALL4 e Vimentina (associados ao subtipo basal), que foi realizada em micromatrizes teciduais com abundante representação do tumor primário e das ML, tiveram valor de corte de 20%, definindo os casos em positivos e negativos. Casos negativos para CK20 ou GATA3 e positivos para CK5 foram agrupados no subtipo basal; casos positivos para CK20 ou GATA3 e negativos para CK5 agrupados no subtipo luminal e casos duplo positivos ou duplo negativos agrupados no subtipo indeterminado. As associações entre estes subtipos e as características clínico-patológicas foram realizadas através de testes qui-quadrado ou exato de Fisher para as variáveis categóricas. A comparação dos subtipos obtidos no centro do tumor e na ML foi realizada com testes de McNemar-Bowker e concordância pelo coeficiente Kappa. A análise de sobrevida foi realizada pelo método Kaplan-Meier e testes de Breslow. RESULTADOS: VH foram observadas em 116 (63,4%) casos e associadas a invasão linfovascular (p=0,043), VH na metástase (p < 0,001), pior sobrevida global (p=0,043). Havia 14 diferentes VH, a escamosa, mais comum, foi associada a tumores maiores (p=0,003); necrose (p=0,004); VH sarcomatoide (p=0,047), VH na metástase (p=0,003), sem impacto nas sobrevidas. VH micropapilífera, segunda mais observada, foi associada a invasão linfovascular (p=0,002); margem cirúrgica positiva (p=0,005); metástase linfonodal (p < 0,001), VH na metástase (p=0,007) e piores sobrevidas doença específica (p=0,016) e global (p=0,005). VHs foram observadas em 40,7% das metástases linfonodais, com apenas um caso discordante das VH observadas no tumor vesical. Nos dois perfis IH estabelecidos não houve impacto nas sobrevidas e o subtipo basal foi associado a tumores maiores (CK5/CK20 p=0,025; CK5/GATA3 p=0,006) e a variante escamosa (CK5/CK20 e CK5/GATA3 p < 0,001) e o subtipo luminal foi associado a variantes micropapilífera (CK5/CK20 e CK5/GATA3 p < 0,001) e plasmocitoide (CK5/CK20 p=0,003; CK5/GATA3 p=0,011). Foi moderado o grau de concordância do subtipo observado no centro comparado ao observado na ML (CK5/CK20 Kappa=0,57; CK5/GATA3 Kappa=0,48). CONCLUSÕES: A presença de VH nos carcinomas uroteliais da bexiga, além de acarretar heterogeneidade intratumoral, foi associada a características clínico-patológicas de agressividade, com impacto na sobrevida, sobretudo na variante micropapilífera. O perfil IH basal foi associado a tumores maiores com variante escamosa e o perfil IH luminal foi associado às variantes micropapilífera e plasmocitoide. Os perfis IHs não diferiram quanto às sobrevidas e houve moderada concordância com os perfis observados nas ML / OBJETIVES: Evaluate clinicopathological features emphasizing the presence of histological variants (HV) in bladder urothelial carcinomas and their lymph node metastasis (LNM). Characterize immunohistochemical profiles related to molecular subtypes and verify their clinicopathological associations. METHODS: 183 high-grade muscle-invasive urothelial carcinomas undergoing radical cystectomy at Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, HCFMUSP or Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz were classified according to gender, age, size, focality, neoplastic configuration, necrosis, lymphovascular and perineural invasion, HV, carcinoma in situ, peritumoral and intratumoral inflammatory infiltrate, stage, surgical margin, LNM and HV in metastasis. Semi-quantitative results of the immuhistochemical (IHC) studies for CK20 and GATA3 (associated with the luminal subtype) and CK5, SALL4 and Vimentin (associated with basal subtype), which were performed in tissue microarrays with abundant representation of the primary tumor and LNM, had a cutoff value of 20%, dividing cases into positive and negative. Negative cases for CK20 or GATA3 and positive for CK5 were grouped into the basal subtype; positive cases for CK20 or GATA3 and negative for CK5 were grouped into luminal subtype and double positive or double negative cases were grouped into the undetermined subtype. The associations between these subtypes and clinicopathological features were performed using chi-square or Fisher´s exact tests for the categorical variables. Comparison of the subtype obtained at the center of the tumor and LNM was performed using McNemar-Bowker test and agreement with Kappa coefficient. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method and Breslow tests. RESULTS: HV were observed in 116 (63.4%) cases and associated with lymphovascular invasion (p=0.043); HV in metastasis (p < 0.001), worse overall survival (p=0.043). There were 14 different HV, and squamous variant, the most common, was associated with larger tumors (p=0.003); necrosis (p=0.004), sarcomatoid variant (p=0,047), HV in metastasis (p=0.003), with no impact on survival. Micropapillary variant, the second most observed, was associated with lymphovascular invasion (p=0.002); positive surgical margin (p=0.005); LNM (p < 0.001); HV in metastasis (p=0.007) and worse disease-specific (p=0.016) an overall survival (p=0.005). HV were observed in 40.7% of the LNM, and only one case was discordant with HV observed in the bladder tumor. In both IHC profiles there was no impact on survival, and the basal subtype was associated with larger tumors (CK5/CK20 p=0.025; CK5/GATA3 p=0.006) and squamous variant (CK5/CK20 and CK5/GATA3 p < 0.001). Luminal subtype was associated with micropapillary variant (CK5/CK20 and CK5/GATA3 p < 0.001) and plasmacytoid variant (CK5/CK20 p=0.003; CK5/GATA3 p=0.011). There was moderate agreement between the subtype observed in the tumor center compared to that observed in LNM (CK5/CK20 Kappa=0.57; CK5/GATA3 Kappa=0.48). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of HV in bladder urothelial carcinomas, in addition to cause intratumoral heterogeneity, was associated with clinical and pathological characteristics of aggressiveness, with impact on survival, especially in the micropapillary variant. The basal IHC profile was associated with larger tumors and squamous variant, and the luminal IHC profile was associated with micropapillary and plasmacytoid variants. The IHC profiles did not differ on the survival rates and there was moderate agreement compared to the subtypes observed in LNM