A Case of Unusual Mast Cell Response With Interstitial Cystitis-Like Symptoms to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Muscle-Invasive Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

Randomized trials support the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer due to a noted survival advantage, which appeared to be strongly related to downstaging of the cancer to pT0 (complete pathologic response). This report presents a case of an unusual mast cell response along with bladder wall thickening after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, final cystectomy specimen did not reveal any residual tumor (pT0). The authors hypothesize that neoadjuvant chemotherapy could have caused the diffuse mast cell response, and that this profound inflammatory response can be used as a biomarker of complete response to chemotherapy.

Target Audience

This activity has been designated to meet the educational needs of physicians and nurses involved in the management of patients with cancer.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Describe several treatment options for urinary bladder cancer
  • Summarize possible pathological responses to cisplatin based neoadjuvant therapy
Additional information
Supporters: 

No commercial support was received for this article.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician
Course opens: 
12/16/2013
Course expires: 
12/16/2014
Cost:
$0.00

Venkata Pokuri, MD
Division of Medical Oncology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York

Norbert Sule, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York

Yousef Soofi, MD
Department of Pathology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York

Bo Xu, MD, PhD
Department of Pathology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York

Khurshid Guru, MD
Division of Urologic Surgical Oncology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York

Saby George, MD
Division of Medical Oncology
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York

Available Credit

  • 1.00 Participation
  • 1.00 Nurse
  • 1.00 Physician

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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