Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia
Doi
Abstract
In order to evaluate the potential
prognostic/predictive role of androgen receptor (AR)
expression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer
(NMIBC), and whether it may represent a therapeutic
target, we conducted a systematic search of the literature
using ‘androgen receptor or AR’, ‘testosterone’, ‘bladder
cancer’ and ‘non-muscle invasive bladder cancer or
NMIBC’ as keywords. Eleven studies met the
inclusion/exclusion criteria. No significant association
was found between AR status and patients’ gender
(p=0.232), tumor size (p=0.975), tumor stage (p=0.237),
tumor grade (p=0.444), tumor multicentricity (p=0.397),
concomitant CIS (p=0.316) and progression of disease
(p=0.397). On the other hand, relative lack of AR
expression was significantly correlated to recurrent
disease (p=0.001). Evidence for a direct correlation
between AR expression and recurrence-free survival of
patients with NMIBC indicate ARs as potential markers
of BC behavior; moreover, the finding of a role of
androgen blockade therapy in improving survival
highlights the potential clinical application of this
pathway, which deserves to be further explored