Large-scale human tissue analysis identifies Uroplakin 1b as a putative diagnostic marker in surgical pathology

Uroplakin 1B (Upk1b) stabilizes epithelial cells lining the bladder lumen to preventrupturing during bladder distension. Little is known about Upk1b expression in other normal and ma-lignant tissues. To comprehensively evaluate the potential diagnostic and prognostic utility of Upk1bexpression analysis, a tissue microarray containing 14,061 samples from 127 different tumor types andsubtypes and 608 samples of 76 different normal tissue types was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.Upk1b immunostaining was found in 61 (48%) different tumor types including 50 (39%) with at leastone moderately positive and 39 tumor types (31%) with at least one strongly positive tumor. Highestpositivity rates were found in urothelial neoplasms (58e95%), Brenner tumors of the ovary (92%),epithelioid mesothelioma (87%), serous carcinoma of the ovary (58%) and the endometrium (53%)as well as in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (18e37%), lung (39%), and esophagus(26%). In urothelial carcinoma, low Upk1b expression was linked to high grade and invasive tumorgrowth (P <.0001 each) and nodal metastasis (PZ.0006). Our data suggest diagnostic applicationsof Upk1b immunohistochemistry in panels for the distinction of malignant mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma of the lung, urothelial carcinoma from prostatic adenocarcinoma in the bladder, or pancreaticobiliary and gastroesophageal from colorectal adenocarcinoma. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

The expression of Uroplakin 1B (Upk1b) was analyzed in various tumor types and normal tissues, revealing its presence in multiple tumor types, particularly in urothelial carcinoma. Low Upk1b expression was associated with high-grade and invasive tumor growth, as well as nodal metastasis.