Quantitative Analysis of Tumor-Associated Mast Cells in Recurrent and Non-recurrent Urothelial Bladder Cancer in Stage pTa and pT1

Background Urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder (UCUB) is a common malignancy in both genders with a very high recurrence rate. There has been increasing evidence for a correlation between tumor-associated mast cells (TAMC) and tumor growth and recurrence rates. In the present study, we set out to establish a link between TAMC and the clinical morphological characteristics of UCUB in stages pTa and pT1. Methodology A retrospective non-clinical approach was used, with two groups of patients with UCUB. A total of 163 patients were included, 95 in the non-recurrent group and 68 in the recurrent UCUB group. Estimation of TAMC was performed on histological slides from the initial biopsy material using Giemsa and Toluidine blue staining. The collected data were statistically analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier curve, Mann-Whitney test, receiver operating characteristic curve, and chi-square analysis. Results Statistical analysis revealed that TAMC in the tumor stroma shows a positive correlation with local recurrence, with no statistical significance to the time of recurrence. No correlation showed statistical significance with pT stage, grade, gender, and age. Conclusions The amount of TAMC in UCUB correlates positively with the rate of local recurrence. The depicted correlations are similar to those established in mammary carcinoma, some lymphoproliferative disorders, and pancreatic and prostate malignancies.