In order to evaluate the potential prognostic/predictive role of androgen receptor (AR) expression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), and whether it may represent a therapeutic target, we conducted a systematic search of the literature using 'androgen receptor or AR', 'testosterone', 'bladder cancer' and 'non-muscle invasive bladder cancer or NMIBC' as keywords. Eleven studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. No significant association was found between AR status and patients' gender (p=0.232), tumor size (p=0.975), tumor stage (p=0.237), tumor grade (p=0.444), tumor multicentricity (p=0.397), concomitant CIS (p=0.316) and progression of disease (p=0.397). On the other hand, relative lack of AR expression was significantly correlated to recurrent disease (p=0.001). Evidence for a direct correlation between AR expression and recurrence-free survival of patients with NMIBC indicate ARs as potential markers of BC behavior; moreover, the finding of a role of androgen blockade therapy in improving survival highlights the potential clinical application of this pathway, which deserves to be further explored.
Histology and histopathology. 2019 Dec 05 [Epub ahead of print]
Francesca Sanguedolce, Luigi Cormio, Giuseppe Carrieri, Beppe Calò, Davide Russo, Andrea Menin, Antonio Luigi Pastore, Francesco Greco, Giorgio Bozzini, Antonio Galfano, Giovannalberto Pini, Angelo Porreca, Filippo Mugavero, Mario Falsaperla, Carlo Ceruti, Luca Cindolo, Alessandro Antonelli, Andrea Minervini
Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Foggia, Italy. ., Department of Urology and Organ Transplantation, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy., Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Foggia, Italy., Department of Pathology, San Bortolo Hospital, Vicenza, Italy., Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Urology., Department of Urology, Humanitas Gavazzeni, Bergamo, Italy., Department of Urology, ASST Valle Olona, Busto A. (VA), Italy., Department of Urology, ASST Grande ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy., Department of Urology, San Raffaele Turro Hospital, San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy., Urology Unit, Policlinico of Abano, Abano Terme, Italy., Urology Unit, Ospedale Vittorio Emanuele, Catania, Italy., Urology Clinic, CittĂ della Salute e della Scienza, University of Turin, Turin, Italy., Department of Urology, ASL02 Abruzzo, Chieti, Italy., Urology Unit, ASST-Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy., Department of Oncologic, Minimally-Invasive Urology and Andrology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.