Contemporary Molecular Markers for Predicting Systemic Treatment Response in Urothelial Bladder Cancer: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The search for dependable molecular biomarkers to enhance routine clinical practice is a compelling challenge across all oncology fields. Urothelial bladder carcinoma, known for its significant heterogeneity, presents difficulties in predicting responses to systemic therapies and outcomes post-radical cystectomy. Recent advancements in molecular cancer biology offer promising avenues to understand the disease's biology and identify emerging predictive biomarkers. Stratifying patients based on their recurrence risk post-curative treatment or predicting the efficacy of conventional and targeted therapies could catalyze personalized treatment selection and disease surveillance. Despite progress, reliable molecular biomarkers to forecast responses to systemic agents, in neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or palliative treatment settings, are still lacking, underscoring an urgent unmet need. This review aims to delve into the utilization of current and emerging molecular signatures across various stages of urothelial bladder carcinoma to predict responses to systemic therapy.

Keywords: biomarkers; precision oncology; response predictors; urothelial carcinoma.

Figure 1

Flow diagram of the study selection process.