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Updated: May 25, 2026
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Culture of Bladder Cancer Organoids as Precision Medicine Tools
Published on: December 28, 2021
Three differentiation states risk-stratify bladder cancer into distinct subtypes
Jens-Peter Volkmer1, Debashis Sahoo, Robert K Chin
1Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. jvolkmer@stanford.edu
Summary
This study introduces a new molecular classification for bladder cancer (BC) based on tumor cell differentiation. Keratin 14 (KRT14) identifies primitive cells linked to worse prognosis in basal, intermediate, and differentiated BC subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cancer research
- Molecular pathology
Background:
- Current bladder cancer (BC) staging relies on pathological stage and grade.
- Need for additional prognostic markers in BC management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate molecular classification of BC based on tumor cell differentiation.
- To identify novel prognostic markers for bladder cancer.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large gene-expression databases and a biologically supervised computational model.
- Assessed tumorigenicity and differentiation potential via xenotransplantation.
- Correlated marker prognostic utility with outcomes in gene expression and FFPE tissue datasets.
Main Results:
- Identified three BC subtypes: basal, intermediate, and differentiated, based on differentiation states.
- Found that the most primitive tumor cell subpopulation drives xenograft tumor formation.
- Keratin 14 (KRT14) marks the most primitive differentiation state and is associated with worse prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Molecular subclassification of BC based on differentiation provides additional prognostic information.
- KRT14 is a key marker for identifying aggressive BC subtypes.
- Distinct tumor-initiating populations characterize each BC subtype.
