TERT- beyond the territory: Usage of PCR-based TERT promoter assay in defining urothelial carcinoma in a case of long-standing prostatic adenocarcinoma

Pathol Res Pract. 2020 Jan;216(1):152663. doi: 10.1016/j.prp.2019.152663. Epub 2019 Sep 21.

Abstract

Bladder cancer continues to be a source of disease burden worldwide. In patients with a long-standing history of prostate cancer, distinguishing between new/independent and synchronous poorly differentiated urothelial carcinoma and residual/recurrent high grade/poorly differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma or prostatic adenocarcinoma with therapy-related changes can be diagnostically and therapeutically challenging. In the present case report, along with morphological features, immunohistochemical (IHC) studies and a novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutation assay were used as essential ancillary tools in reaching a final diagnosis. This is important as spatially, topographically and temporally multi-focal and multi-differentiating tumors can behave differently with different prognostic and therapeutic connotations.

Keywords: Neuroendocrine; Prostatic adenocarcinoma; TERT promoter mutation; Urothelial Carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / pathology
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Prognosis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Telomerase / genetics*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Urologic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Urologic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Urologic Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • TERT protein, human
  • Telomerase
  • DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases