Liang Cheng: What’s the difference between urachal and nonurachal adenocarcinoma the bladder?

Liang Cheng shared on X:

“What’s the difference between urachal and nonurachal adenocarcinoma the bladder? You may take a look of this most recent paper published this month in JCO Precision Oncology.

This important study, led by Dr. Andea Necchi, represents the largest cohort analysis to date, providing valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings of these rare cancers and opening up possibilities for targeted therapies . The authors analyzed 133 urachal and 328 nonurachal cases, found that both types share common genomic alterations like TP53 and KRAS mutations, but they also exhibit distinct differences.

For instance, urachal adenocarcinomas showed genomic alterations similar to those found in colorectal cancer, indicating potential responsiveness to therapies targeting EGFR. In contrast, nonurachal adenocarcinomas presented a different pattern of genomic alterations, suggesting different therapeutic strategies. Take home messages:

• Urachal and non-urachal adenocarcinoma revealed notable differences in genomic alterations, PIK3CA and ERBB2 were identified as potential therapy targets in both groups.
• Identification of additional genomic alterations provide rationale for including of these rare tumors in basket clinical trials.
• This study highlights the potential of comprehensive genomic profiling to personalize the treatment options and inform clinical trial designs. Great honor to be part of this landmark study! “

Urachal and Nonurachal Adenocarcinomas of the Urinary Bladder: A Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Study

Authors: Antonio Cigliola, Alina Basnet, Joseph M. Jacob, Chiara Mercinelli, Valentina Tateo, Damiano Alfio Patanè, Gennady Bratslavsky, Liang Cheng, Petros Grivas, Ashish M. Kamat, Philippe E. Spiess, Dean C. Pavlick, Douglas I. Lin, Jeffrey S. Ross, Andrea Necchi.

Source: Liang Cheng/X

Liang Cheng is a Professor and Vice Chair for Translational Research at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He serves as the Director of Anatomic Pathology and Molecular Pathology at Lifespan Academic Medical Center. His research is focused on translational studies of genitourinary cancers and the molecular diagnostics of solid tumors.