jhc.2026.10.1.7

Journal of Histopathology and Cytopathology

Official Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Pathology

Vol 10, No 1, January 2026

Expression of p53 in Urothelial Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder: Correlation with Tumor Grade and Muscle Invasion
Azim T,1 Jinnah MS,2 Aktar M,3 Ahmed M,4 *Badhan RE5

Abstract
Background: The p53 gene, a well-known tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 17p13.1, plays a pivotal role in regulating cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Mutations or overexpression of p53 have been linked to tumor progression in urothelial carcinoma.
Aim: To evaluate p53 expression in urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and determine its relationship with histopathological grade and muscle invasion.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Dhaka Medical College between March 2020 and February 2022. Forty histopathologically diagnosed urothelial carcinoma cases from TURBT or cystectomy specimens were included. p53 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with tumor grade and the presence of muscle invasion.
Results: The mean age was 60.85 ± 11.18 years (range 40–85), with a male-to-female ratio of 3.4:1. p53 was positive in 65% of all cases and in 92.3% of high-grade tumors, while most low-grade tumors were negative. Among high-grade, muscle-invasive cases, p53 positivity was observed in 93.3% of cases. The correlation between p53 overexpression and both tumor grade and muscle invasion was statistically significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: p53 expression is significantly associated with aggressive urothelial carcinoma phenotypes, supporting its utility as a prognostic biomarker in clinical decision-making.
[Journal of Histopathology and Cytopathology, 2026 Jan; 10 (1):53-62]
DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.69950/jhc.2026.10.1.7

Keywords: p53, tumor suppressor gene, bladder cancer, urothelial carcinoma, cell cycle regulation, immunohistochemistry, muscle-invasive

  1. Dr. Tasmia Azim, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, Dhaka. tasmia.azim@gmail.com  
  2. Professor Dr. Mohammed Shahed Ali Jinnah. Ex-director, National Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Centre (NILMRC), Dhaka. jinnah63@gmail.com
  3. Dr. Marufa Aktar, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Sher E Bangla Medical College, Barishal. marufaepu@gmail.com
  4. Dr. Nasim Ahmed, Junior Consultant,Department of Anesthesia, Analgesia, Palliative and Intensive Care Medicine, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. : dr.ahmednasim@gmail.com
  5. *Dr. Raisa Enayet Badhan, Medical Officer, Department of Microbiology, National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Dhaka. raisabadhan@gmail.com

*For Correspondence

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jhc2025v9i1s5

Original Article

Determination of Mast Cell Density in Urothelial Carcinoma of Urinary Bladder and its Relation with Grading and Invasiveness

 *Wahid SR,1 Asafudullah SM,2 Khatun MM,3 Momin NN,4 Shirin S5

 

  1. *Dr. Sadia Refat Wahid, MBBS, MD (Pathology), Curator, Department of Pathology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka. sadia403102@gmail.com
  2. S M Asafudullah, MBBS, MD (Pathology), Professor, Department of Pathology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi.
  3. Mst. Mahmuda Khatun, MBBS, MD (Pathology), Lecturer, Department of Pathology, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi.
  4. Naznin Nahar Momin, MBBS, MD (Pathology), Assistant Professor, Chattagram Maa O Shishu Hospital Medical College, Chittagong.
  5. Sadia Shirin, MBBS, Lecturer, Department of Pathology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka

 

*For correspondence

Abstract

Background: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) has a high incidence rate and related mortality in developing countries like Bangladesh which is increasing day by day. Mast cells (MCs) in UC are possibly involved in tumor angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, immunomodulation, and most importantly with a favorable or unfavorable prognosis. Mast cell targeted strategies in cancer therapy showed success in many tumors. Our study was designed to determine mast cell density in urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder and to evaluate its relation with histologic grading and invasiveness.

 

Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Pathology, Rajshahi Medical College from September 2019 to August 2021. A total of 51 case of urothelial carcinoma were included in this study. The continuous variable (age of patient) was expressed as frequency, percentage, mean±SD, and range. MCD were expressed as mean±SD and median. An unpaired t-test was done to see the differences of MCD of the patients according to grade and invasion.

Results: Most of the cases were found in between 61 to 70 years. Male to female ratio was found to be 2.4:1. Most frequent tumor location was a lateral wall of the urinary bladder (37.3%), 56.9% of cases were high grade & 43.1% were low-grade urothelial carcinoma. Muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC) was found in 51.0% of patients and 49.0% of patients were found with non-muscle invasive bladder carcinoma (NMIBC).It was observed that with Toluidine blue staining mean mast cell density was 48.48 ± 18.66 in high-grade urothelial carcinoma and 18.86 ± 10.59 in low-grade urothelial carcinoma. So mast cell density (MCD) was increased with an increase in the grade of tumor. The mean (±SD) MCD of MIBC and NMIBC were 48.96 (±18.92) and 21.92 (±14.15) respectively. So mast cell densitywas observed to increase in muscle-invasive bladder tumors.  Determination of the relation of MCD in urothelial carcinoma with grade and invasiveness was done in this study. An unpaired t-test was done to measure the level of significance. The p-value is highly significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Mast cell density (MCD) positively correlates with invasion and grading of urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder.

[Journal of Histopathology and Cytopathology, 2025 Jan; 9 (1):30-37]

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.69950/jhc2025v9i1s5

Keywords: Urothelial  Carcinoma, Mast cell density, Toluidine blue staining