The use of Urovysion™ fluorescence in situ hybridization in the diagnosis and surveillance of non-urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Michelle D. Reid-Nicholson, Preetha Ramalingam, Bamidele Adeagbo, Ningli Cheng, Stephen C. Peiper, Martha K. Terris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Urovysion™ fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a sensitive and specific test used to diagnose urothelial carcinoma in urine. It detects aneuploidy of chromosomes 3, 7 and 17, and loss of both 9p21 loci in malignant urothelial cells. We evaluated Urovysion™ FISH in non-urothelial carcinoma involving bladder to determine its possible application to their diagnosis and surveillance. Paraffin blocks from 31 non-urothelial bladder carcinomas, 12 pure urothelial carcinomas and 2 urothelial carcinomas with squamous differentiation were tested according to Vysis-Abbot Laboratories' recommended standards. Cases included 15 primary squamous carcinoma, 2 urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation, 4 primary adenocarcinoma, 5 colonic, 4 prostatic and 1 cervical adenocarcinoma. Total 60% of squamous, 83% of pure urothelial, 100% of urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation and 100% of primary and secondary adenocarcinomas hybridized successfully; 2/10 (11%) squamous carcinomas and 11/14 (79%) primary and secondary adenocarcinomas were Urovysion™ FISH-positive with primary adenocarcinomas accounting for 75% (3/4), colonic, 80% (4/5), prostatic, 75% (3/4) and cervical, 100% (1/1) positivity. Total 70% (7/10) of pure urothelial carcinomas and 100% (2/2) of urothelial carcinomas with squamous differentiation were Urovysion™ FISH-positive. In conclusion, we found that chromosomal abnormalities tested for by Urovysion™ FISH may be seen in non-urothelial carcinomas of bladder. These false-positive results were frequent in primary and secondary adenocarcinoma and rare in squamous carcinoma. This has significant implications for the accurate diagnosis and management of patients with urinary tract cancer. Urovysion™ FISH cannot be used to definitively diagnose squamous carcinoma or adenocarcinoma nor can it be used to differentiate the two from urothelial carcinoma. However, it may be useful as a surveillance tool in established primary and secondary bladder adenocarcinoma. Cytopathologists and urologists should correlate Urovysion™ FISH results with cytomorphology and clinical information.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)119-127
Number of pages9
JournalModern Pathology
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2009

Keywords

  • Carcinoma
  • Non-urothelial
  • Urovysion™ FISH

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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