Annals of Urologic Oncology

Review Article | Open Access

Squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: Clinicopathological and molecular update -Review

Sunil Vitthalrao Jagtap1 , Swati S Jagtap2 , Parneet Kaur1 , Snigdha Vartak1

1Department of Pathology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Deemed University, Karad-415110, India.

2Department of Physiology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Deemed University, Karad-415110, India.

Correspondence: Sunil Vitthalrao Jagtap (Department of Pathology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Deemed University, karad-415110, Maharashtra, India; Email: drsvjagtap@gmail.com).

Annals of Urologic Oncology 2021, 4(1): 10-17. https://doi.org/10.32948/auo.2021.10.11

Received: 21 Jun 2021 | Accepted: 10 Jul 2021 | Published online: 15 Jul 2021

Abstract

Urinary bladder cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is an uncommon subtype of urinary bladder carcinoma. It is a malignant epithelial neoplasm arising in the urinary bladder demonstrating a pure squamous cell phenotype. On histopathology it is considered when tumor is showing pure squamous morphology without any component of conventional urothelial carcinoma. The SCC is a histologically distinct form of cancer. It arises from the uncontrolled multiplication of cells showing particular cytological or tissue architectural characteristics of squamous cell differentiation, such as the presence of keratin, tonofilament bundles or desmosomes. Majority of bladder SCC are high grade, high stage tumors with most cancers having muscle invasion at the time of diagnosis while overall about 80% of bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive bladder cancer at diagnosis. COX-2 is markedly expressed in all SCCs. An increased COX-2 level induces the development of SCC of the bladder affecting many biological features of this tissue including apoptosis, cell adhesion, angiogenesis and invasiveness. TERT promoter mutations, commonly found in conventional urothelial carcinoma, are also highly prevalent in urinary bladder squamous cell carcinoma suggesting a common tumorgenesis and potential utility as a molecular urine-based-screening assay. This review summarizes the current features related to clinical, pathological, and molecular features of SCC of urinary bladder.

Key words Urinary bladder cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, pathology, molecular biomarkers

Introduction

The SCC of the bladder is a rare histopathological variant. These tumors shows very aggressive clinical behavior as compaired to conventionalurothelial carcinoma. The urinary bladder cancer is the most common malignancy of the urinary tract, accounting for about 77,000 new cases and 16,000 deaths/year in the USA [1]. The transitional cell carcinoma has higher incidence, and therefore it has received the most research attention.
The squamous cell lesions in urinary bladder includes squamous papilloma, squamous metaplasia while malignant tumors are pure squamous cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation, basaloid SCC and verrucous carcinoma and warty carcinoma. Pure Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder generally represents 2% to 7% of all urothelial cancers with considerable geographic variability in prevalence worldwide [2].
It is observed that SCC is the second most common cell type associated with bladder cancer in industrialized countries. Pure SCC is the most common non-urothelial variant, accounting 5% of all bladder cancers in western countries and reaching 30% in Schistosoma haematobium endemic regions like Egypt and Sudan [3]. Worldwide, however, SCC is the most common form of bladder cancer, accounting for 75% of cases in developing nations [4]. Urinary bladder  cancer based on the degree of invasion in the bladder muscle are classified into non-muscle invasive  or muscle invasive cancer, which is important in patient management. This article is useful for understanding the clinicopathological features  and  molecular subtypes in urinary bladder cancers and are important in specific therapeutic strategies.

Discussion

The urinary bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor in the United States. The fourth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of urogenital tumors, published in 2016 has given various  histopathological variants. About 90–95% of bladder cancers exhibit conventional urothelial carcinoma (transitional cell carcinoma)on the histopathological features.  About 5-10% of tumors contain other and rare histological variants like plasmacytoid, signet ring, sarcomatoid, giant cell, lipid rich, clear cell, neuroendocrine, sarcomatoid, squamous cell carcinoma,  small cell carcinoma etc [5].
The various differentiation in conventional urothelial carcinoma of transitional cell carcinoma noted are squamous, glandular, trophoblastic etc [6]. The squamous is the most common divergent differentiation, counting up to 40% of invasive urothelial carcinoma.
On etiological factor the SCC is divided into two subtypes: a) SCC associated with bilharzia infection (schistosomiasis), i.e. Bilharzial-associated SCC (B-SCC); b)SCC not associated with bilharziasis, i.e. Non-Bilharzial-associated SCC (NB-SCC).
B-SCC and NB-SCC differ in their epidemiology, natural history, and clinicopathological features (Table 1).
Overall the various known risk factor for urothelial carcinomas   are chronic cystitis mostly related to schistosomiasis, vitamin A deficiency, systemic therapy with cyclophosphamide, smoking, etc. Schistosomiasis is considered the major predisposing factor for B-SCC. The schistosomiasis endemic regions are mostly observed in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America [7]. B-SCC and NB-SCC differ in their epidemiology, natural history, and clinicopathological features. Patients with NB-SCC are generally diagnosed at a late stage and present with poor prognosis. Approximately 70% of pure SCC are muscle-invasive at initial diagnosis, with high rate of local recurrence. In Western countries, where NB-SCC is the predominant subtype, patients are typically diagnosed in the seventh decade and have poor survival outcomes.

Table 1. Differences between Biharzial infestation and Non-Biharzial in the development of urinary bladder SCC.

Clinical, lab investigations

B - SCC

NB - SCC

Occurrence of bladder tumors in

20-30%

2-5%

Age

40-50 years

60-70 years

Gender Male: Female

5:1

3:2

Endemic geographical reagions

Eastern and South East

Asia, South America

Western countries

Predisposing factors

Biharzial infection,

Urinary tract infections

Catheters, Bladder irrirants,

Recurrent urinary tract infections

On cystoscopy

Growth -nodular

Ulcerative/infiltrative

Symptoms

IrritableBladder, Hematuria

Hematuria

Biochemical serum tumor markers-XO,LDH,AST,ALT, IgE, TNF- α

More Raised

Less raised

Immunohistochemical expression in SCC

Ck5+/CK20-

Ck5+/CK20+

Stage

Advanced

Advanced

Grade

50% Low Grade

High Grade

Lymph Node Metastasis

18%

8-10%

Standard Treatment

Radical Cystectomy

Radical Cystectomy

Prognosis

Good

Poor

Recurrence

Mostly Local

Mostly Local

Prevention

Snail control

Anti Bilharzial Drugs

Early dignosis

Avoidance of bladder irritants and prolonged catheterization

Biharzial Squamous Cell carcinoma =B SCC Non- Biharzial Squamous Cell Carcinoma =NB SCC Xanthine Oxidase =(XO), Lactate dehydrogense= (LDH), Aspartate aminotransferase== (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total immunoglobulin E =(IgE) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha =(TNF-α).

Squamous Cell Carcinoma etiology

For SCC age group affected is mostly in seventh decade. The association between chronic bladder irritation and SCC has been postulated, which include chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection, long term catheterization, neurogenic bladder, bladder calculi, foreign bodies, prolonged exposure to cyclophosphamide , extrophy of urinary bladder [8], [9].
It is observed that the long-standing bladder stones have been implicated as a cause of squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. [10]. It is  also  noted that large bladder stone  are associated with  a  aggressive squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder [11].
The various urinary tract infections  related to  bacteria includes  Escherichia coli, Proteus, and Streptococcus faecalis.These have been implicated in the development of squamous metaplasia. The carcinogenic mechanism probably involves nitrosamine production and release of free carcinogenic products through secretion of β-glucoronidase. Also it has been noted that human papilloma virus  has been linked to genitourinary cancers and SCC.
The tobacco smoking has been reported as a major risk factor for bladder cancer in both SCC and transitional cell carcinoma.The pathogenesis for all above mention etiological factors are thought to create an environment abundant in growth factors and cytokines favouring cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and inhibition of apoptosis, resulting in squamous metaplasia, dysplasia, and cancer [12].

Clinical features of SCC

SCC occurs most often in the seventh decade with a slight male predominance. Clinical features of SCC include haematuria, urgency, frequency, and obstruction. Most of the  patients with SCC of the bladder present with hematuria. The most of the patients ,up to 93% presents with chronic cystitis and recurrent urinary tract infection. The rare cases of SCC of the bladder presenting with bladder rupture were noted [13].
The recommendations on diagnostic issues the various investigations and diagnostic procedures carried includes, urine cytology, radio imaging like CT or MRI which may be used for location of tumor, size of tumor, staging, depth of tumor invasion. The diagnostic procedures like cystoscopy , biopsy and  transurethral resection of bladder mass have significant role. The advance techniques includes immunohistochemistry, molecular biomarkers etc.
On cystoscopy, tumors are predominantly ulcerative and commonly located at upper vesical hemisphere, trigone and lateral walls. The tumors are predominantly nodular or ulcerative type  with thickened wall. In late stages SCC tumors are typically large, solitary masses,  and associated with leucoplakia.

Gross Pathological Features of SCC

On gross histomorphological examination the tumors are usually large, sessile or exophytic, bulky tumor. In few cases are predominantly flat with ulcerating type are noted. The infiltrating type at the time of diagnosis are also commonly noted. They often  shows the necrotic areas with flaky keratin material on the surface.
We reported a case of 70-year-old Indian male patient presented with reduced frequency of micturition, pain during micturition and gradually developing retention of urine for three months duration. Ultrasonography bladder showed irregular thickened urinary bladder wall (Figure 1). On Contrast Enhanced CT scan abdomen-pelvis showed  bladder wall with  well defined isodense to hyperdense, lobulated, non pedunculated mass lesion with irregular margins and heterogeneous enhancement with multiple low alternating areas in mass lesion suggestive of necrosis. On histopathology examination showed tumor composed of neoplastic squamous cells arranged in epithelial fronds and large sheets. Individual cells were large polygonal having moderately pleomorphic hyperchromatic to vesicular nuclei, occasional nucleoli  and  mild to moderate amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm (Figure 2, 3, 4, 5). Numerous keratin pearls along with individual cell keratinisation was noted. It was moderate grade squamous cell carcinoma with muscle invasion. On radiological evaluation showed internal iliac group of nodal involvement. According to WHO/ISUP classification of tumors of urinary bladder 2004, our case was invasive neoplasm-SCC grade II and stage T2N1M1 [14].

Figure 1. Ultrasonography bladder showed irregular thickened urinary bladder wall.



Figure 2. Photomicrograph showing squmous tumor cells arranged in sheets, irregular infiltrating nests with formation of keratin pearls, keratinization and intercellular bridges (Haematoxylin & Eosin stain, 100x).
Figure 3. Photomicrograph showing invasive squmous cell carcinoma (Haematoxylin & Eosin  stain, 100x).
Figure 4. Photomicrograph showing well to moderately differentiated squmous cell carcinoma with muscle  invasion (Haematoxylin & Eosin stain, 100x).
Figure 5. Photomicrograph showing squmous cell carcinoma. Theurothelium is normal (Haematoxylin & Eosin stain, 100x).
Microscopic features of SCC urinary bladder

The SCC tumors are of well, moderately or poorly differentiated. The neoplastic cells are squamous cells with destructive stromal invasion. The malignat squamous tumor cells are arranged in sheets, irregular infiltrating nests, or scattered. These cells shows differentiation in the form of keratin pearls, individual cell keratinization or intercellular bridges. Eble JN et al. and Manuta A et al. showed that there is usually surface keratinizing squamous metaplasia and dysplasia or squamous carcinoma in situ [15], [16]. SCC is described as an epithelial neoplasm exclusively displaying histological hallmarks such as squamous keratin pearls, intercellular bridges, keratin cellular debris and keratohyalin granules [17].
Although squamous features are present in TCC variants with mixed histology, the definition of SCC or pure SCC is reserved for tumors that only contain squamous components without any evidence of urothelial components.If any component of conventional urothelial carcinoma or urothelial carcinoma in situ is present, even focally, tumor is designated as urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation.
The differential diagnosis are urothelial carcinoma with squamous differentiation,verrucose carcinoma and secondary spread of squamous cell carcinoma primary to another site, e.g. cervix, penis, anus. In difficult condition, the distinction requires evaluation of the entire resected tumor. In addition, careful clinical, imaging techniques correlation is advised to ensure the tumor is compatible with a bladder primary or metastatic origin. In verrucous carcinoma tumor is well differentiated with "pushing" border in lamina propria, no infiltrating nests of tumor is noted.Pure verrucous carcinoma has better prognosis with no metastatic risk. The pathological prognostics of SCC include tumor stage, grade, lymphovascular, and presence of lymph node involvement [18], [19].

Immunohistochemical (IHC) markers of SCC urinary bladder
The various IHC markers have been studied for SCC. The SCC is positive for squamous markers likeCK5, CK6, while variable for CK7. Also these shows positivity for p63, p40, CK14 and desmoglein-3 [20]. Mariah Z et al. study showed these are with  reduced expression of urothelial markers like uroplakin, GATA3,  S100P [21]. Gulmann C et al. observed  that pure squamous cell carcinomas were positive for CK14 (100%) and desmoglein-3 (75%), negative for GATA3 and uroplakin III in their study [22].
Dalia R Al-Sharaky et al. observed that most squamous cell carcinoma and those associated with bilharziasis were belonged to Ck5+/CK20- subgroup while pure UC and those lacked bilharziasis were located in the Ck5+/CK20+ subgroup [23].
IHC observations demonstrate that about 67% of bladder cancers with squamous differentiation express EGFR. Wenbin Huang observed that MAC387, desmoglein-3, and TRIM29 antibodies demonstrated positive staining in pure SCC and  urothelial carcinomas with squamous differentiation [24].
Molecular biomarkers of SCC urinary bladder

The overall molecular pathways for invasive urothelial tumors develop via either high-grade papillary tumors or CIS. The molecular alterations differ markedly between low- and high-grade tumors. It also differs in invasive and noninvasive types.  The recurrent mutations occur in genes such as TP53, FGFR3, PIK3CA, RB1, HRAS, and promoter mutations of TERT [27]. TERT promoter mutations (TERT-mut) are detectable in the majority of urothelial carcinomas. The TERT mutations are present in up to 79% of bladder neoplasms; its presence is of great diagnostic value [28, 29]. Cowan M et al. performed sequencing for TERT-mut using SafeSeq technique, study detected TERT-mut in 12/15 of bladder squamous cell carcinomas [30].
While specific to SCC the exact pathophysiologic mechanism of the transformation from keratinizing squamous metaplasia to SCC is not clearly understood. It is studied that the transformation is mediated by the epithelial growth factor (EGFR) a tyrosine kinase that transduces signals controlling cell proliferation. The rapid clinical course, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and aggressive pathological features of SCC are associated withfibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) overexpression.
It is observed that the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) alterations were associated with higher stage and grade in both NB-SCC and B-SCC. It is considered therefore of having poor outcomes in these cases. The pathogenesis behind chronic inflammation is that it stimulates the production of COX-2 protein. An increased COX-2 level in turn induces the development of SCC of the bladder affecting many biological features of this tissue including apoptosis, cell adhesion, angiogenesis and invasivenessof the tumor. Tsutomu S and Chohei study showed that COX-2 protein is overexpressed in SCC of the urinary bladder. To reduce the incidence of SCCs, it is therefore important to inhibit COX-2 at the level of the enzyme as well as at the level of gene expression to inhibit peroxidase activity of COX-2 [31].
In SCC tumors Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) oncoprotein expression was also recently identified to be higher expression.
Study from Dotson A et al. noted SCC and tumor with squamous cell differentiation shows basal keratin expression. This subtype expresses high levels of basal markers like CD44, KRT5, KRT6A and KRT14 [32]. Squamous cell differentiation markers are TGM1, DSC3 and PI3 and immune markers PD-L1 and CTLA4. This subtype frequently has a high carcinoma in situ score, and presence of TP53 mutations [33].
In contrast to urothelial carcinoma more rate of chromosome 9 p allelic loss and CDKN2 tumor suppression gene alterations have been noted in SCC urinary bladder [34].
Maia MC et al. reviewed the available data on biomarkers of bladder SCC and provide suggestions on how these may influence therapeutic testing and clinical trials in the future [35].
The study by Ewis AA et al. observed that the genes were up-regulated in SCC of the bladder, including matrix degradation-related genes, growth factors, different oncogenes, and immunology related genes. Conversely, 44 genes were down-regulated in SCC of the bladder, including integrins, laminins, cadherins, nonmetastatic cell 1 (NM23) and apoptosis-related genes [36].
Additional prospective studies are needed to determine whether the molecular subtype can predict the response to therapies.

Treatment of SCC of urinary bladder

The radical cystectomy and urinary diversion is the standard treatment of SCC of the urinary bladder. The SCC often presents at an advanced stage; however, radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection appears to offer a significant benefit in survival in a subset of patients.
The ‘gold standard’ treatment for SCC is radical cystectomy, but other management strategies are use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting have been employed with varying successes. Role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in pure SCC is uncertain. The European Association of Urology has released updated guidelines on Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC). Stratification of patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups is essential for decisions about adjuvant intravesical instillations. Risk tables can be used to estimate risks of recurrence and progression [37]. Unlike urothelial cell carcinoma, SCC is resistant to chemotherapy and guidelines recommend radical cystectomy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Dotson A et al. study on analysis of a national tumor registry suggests a lack of overall survival benefit for  neoadjuvant chemotherapy with localized, muscle invasive SCC of the bladder [32 ]. Immunotherapy has proven to offer clinical responses in patients with platinum-refractory metastatic TCC and may represent as well a new treatment option for non-urothelial carcinomas including SCC.

Prognosis of SCCof urinary bladder

SCC had a more rapid disease progression than TCC. The SCC patients often present at advanced stage at diagnosis resulting in poor prognosis. The outcome can be improved by early detection with frequent cytology, cystoscopy and biopsy studies. A study by Manunta A et al. showed the overall prognosis of NB-SCC is poor, with most patients dying within 3 years and a 5-year survival rate of 33-48% [17]. The application of molecular biomarkers in prognosis is limited because of the expenses and inconvenience.
Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program showed that the most frequent stage was T3 (42.3%), and the most common histological grades were II (37.3%) and III (42.5%). These findings support that NB-SCC tumors are locally advanced with a moderate-to-high histological grade, in contrast to tumors of B-SCC, which are similarly advanced but are usually well differentiated [38].
The prognosis in SCC is very poor regardless of degree of differentiation. A study by Matulay JT et al. observed that invasive SCC of the bladder carries a worse prognosis as compared to urothelial carcinoma, both overall and on a stage-for-stage basis [39].
In SCC >50% death occurs in the first year. Five year survival rate noted were 37%, for a patients having submucosal and  muscular invasions [40, 41]. Mortality in about 90% cases in SCC is from loco regional progression as a result of ureteric or bladder neck obstruction and renal failure. In NB-SCC, the distant metastases are uncommon, with an incidence of 8-10% .
Lagwinski N et al. observed, the recurrence and mortality rates of patients with transitional carcinomas with squamous differentiation are 2-4 fold higher than in patients without squamous differentiation respectively [15]. Dotson A et al. study showed squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder shows poor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy [32].

Conclusion
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncommon subtype of urinary bladder carcinoma. The clinical, histopathological, immunocytochemistry and molecular biomarker evaluation for the biological process behind urinary bladder cancer is specific to SCC. It is necessary to understand SCC of the bladder better, especially for prognosis. The patients of SC urinary bladder often presents at advanced stage at diagnosis resulting in poor prognosis.The understanding of SCC urinary bladder and its clinical, histopathological and biomarker study will improve specific diagnosis. And it will be helpful to plan treatment strategies for better management of these patients.
Declaration

Acknowledgements 

NIL. 


Ethical policy 

Approval was taken from institutional ethical committee. The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Patients gave their informed consent for their participation.

 

Author contributions 

SVJ, SSJ, PK, SV designed the study, drafted the manuscript, searched literature, revised it critically for important intellectual content, read and approved the final manuscript. 


Competing interests 

The authors declare no competing interests. 


Funding 

NIL.

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Cite this article: Jagtap SV, Jagtap SS, Kaur P, Vartak S: Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder: Clinicopathological and Molecular Update -Review. Ann Urol Oncol 2021; 4 (1): 10-17. https://doi.org/10.32948/auo.2021.10.11