Molecular aspects of upper tract urothelial carcinoma

Primary upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a relatively rare tumor with up to 60% of cases being muscle invasive at presentation. In this article we review the molecular biology of UTUC, an understanding of which may help to address some of the dilemmas surrounding the diagnosis and treatment of this disease and ultimately lead to the introduction of personalized treatment plans.

The literature search on the molecular aspects of UTUC was performed using the National Library of Medicine database.

UTUC and urothelial carcinomas of the bladder share many common biological pathways. UTUC are more commonly associated with conditions such as Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and Hereditary Non Polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC), the molecular basis of which is now being understood. A large number of potential biomarkers have been studied to help identify robust prognostic markers in UTUC.

Advances in our understanding of the biology of UTUC is may in the future help to identify novel druggable targets, clinically applicable biomarkers and guide treatment of the rare but lethal condition.