Guidelines

Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

4. PATHOLOGICAL STAGING AND CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS

4.1. Definition of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Tumours confined to the mucosa and invading the lamina propria are classified as stage Ta and T1, respectively, according to the Tumour, Node, Metastasis (TNM) classification system [51]. Intra-epithelial, high-grade (HG) tumours confined to the mucosa are classified as CIS (Tis). All of these tumours can be treated by transurethral resection of the bladder (TURB), eventually in combination with intravesical instillations and are therefore grouped under the heading of NMIBC for therapeutic purposes. The term ‘Non-muscle-invasive BC’ represents a group definition and all tumours should be characterised according to their stage, grade, and further pathological characteristics (see Sections 4.5 and 4.7 and the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting website: http://www.iccr-cancer.org/datasets/published-datasets/urinary-male-genital/bladder. The term ‘superficial BC’ should no longer be used as it is incorrect.

4.2. Tumour, Node, Metastasis Classification (TNM)

The latest TNM classification approved by the Union International Contre le Cancer (UICC) (8th Edn.) is referred to (Table 4.1) [51].

Table 4.1: 2017 TNM classification of urinary bladder cancer

2017 TNM classification of urinary bladder cancer

T - Primary tumour

TXPrimary tumour cannot be assessed

T0No evidence of primary tumour

TaNon-invasive papillary carcinoma

TisCarcinoma in situ: ‘flat tumour’

T1Tumour invades subepithelial connective tissue

T2Tumour invades muscle

T2a Tumour invades superficial muscle (inner half)

T2b Tumour invades deep muscle (outer half)

T3Tumour invades perivesical tissue

T3a Microscopically

T3b Macroscopically (extravesical mass)

T4Tumour invades any of the following: prostate stroma, seminal vesicles, uterus, vagina pelvic wall, abdominal wall

T4a Tumour invades prostate stroma, seminal vesicles, uterus or vagina

T4b Tumour invades pelvic wall or abdominal wall

N – Regional lymph nodes

NXRegional lymph nodes cannot be assessed

N0No regional lymph node metastasis

N1Metastasis in a single lymph node in the true pelvis (hypogastric, obturator, external iliac, or presacral)

N2Metastasis in multiple regional lymph nodes in the true pelvis (hypogastric, obturator, external iliac,
or presacral)

N3Metastasis in common iliac lymph node(s)

M - Distant metastasis

M0No distant metastasis

M1aNon-regional lymph nodes

M1bOther distant metastases

4.3. T1 subclassification

The depth and extent of invasion into the lamina propria (T1 sub-staging) has been demonstrated to be of prognostic value in retrospective cohort studies [51,52] (LE: 3). Its use is recommended by the most recent 2022 World Health Organization (WHO) classification [53,54]. T1 sub-staging methods are based either on micrometric (T1e and T1m) or histo-anatomic (T1a and T1b) principles; the optimal classification system, however, remains to be defined [55,56].

4.4. Lymphovascular invasion

The presence of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in TURB specimens is associated with an increased risk of pathological upstaging and worse prognosis [57-61] (LE: 3). Immunohistochemistry for confirmation is not mandatory [56].

4.5. Histological grading of non-muscle-invasive bladder urothelial carcinomas

4.5.1. Types of histological grading systems

In 2004 the WHO published a histological classification system for UCs including papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP), non-invasive papillary carcinoma low grade (LG) and HG. This system was also taken into the updated 2016/2022 WHO classifications [53,54]. It provides a different patient stratification between individual categories compared to the older 1973 WHO classification, which distinguished between grade 1 (G1), grade 2 (G2) and grade 3 (G3) categories [55,62].

There is a significant shift of patients between the categories of the WHO 1973 and the WHO 2004/2022 systems (see Figure 4.1), for example an increase in the number of HG patients (WHO 2004/2022) due to inclusion of a subset of G2 patients with a more favourable prognosis compared to the G3 category (WHO 1973) [63]. According to a multi-institutional individual patient data analysis, the proportion of tumours classified as PUNLMP (WHO 2004/2016) has decreased to very low levels in the last decade [64].

4.5.2. Prognostic value of histological grading

A systematic review and meta-analysis did not show that the 2004/2016 classification outperforms the 1973 classification in prediction of recurrence and progression [63] (LE: 2a).

To compare the prognostic value of both WHO classifications, an individual patient data analysis of 5,145 primary TaT1 NMIBC patients from 16 centres throughout Europe and one in Canada was conducted. Patients had a transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) followed by intravesical instillations at the physician’s discretion. In this large study, the WHO 1973 and the WHO 2004/2016 were both prognostic for progression but not for recurrence. When compared, the WHO 1973 was a stronger prognosticator of progression in TaT1 NMIBC than the WHO 2004/2016. However, a 4-tier combination LG/G1, LG/G2, HG/G2 and HG/G3) of both classification systems proved to be superior to either classification system alone, as it divides the large group of G2 patients into two subgroups (LG/HG) with different prognoses [65]. In a subgroup of 3,311 patients with primary Ta bladder tumours, a similar prognosis was found for PUNLMP and Ta LG carcinomas [65].

4.5.3. Clinical application of histological grading systems

  • The WHO 2002/2022 classification system is currently supported by the WHO for clinical application. Nevertheless, the WHO 1973 is still being used. The most important parameters, which must be considered for clinical application of any grading system are its inter-observer reproducibility and prognostic value (see Sections 4.5.1 and 4.6). These guidelines provide recommendations for tumours classified by both classification systems.

Figure 4.1: Stratification of tumours according to grade in the WHO 1973 and 2004/2022 classifications [65]

**Grade shifts from the WHO1973 (G1–G3) to the WHO2004/2016 (LG and HG) classification for Ta/T1 bladder tumours are displayed with dotted lines and arrows. Along the dotted lines, both the degree of anaplasia and the 5-year progression rates increased in LG/G1, LG/G2, HG/G2, and HG/G3 patients.Figure reproduced with permission from Elsevier from [65]

4.6. Carcinoma in situ and its classification

Carcinoma in situ is an intra-epithelial, HG, non-invasive UC. It can be missed or misinterpreted as an inflammatory lesion during cystoscopy if not biopsied. Carcinoma in situ is often multifocal and can occur in the bladder, but also in the upper urinary tract (UUT), prostatic ducts and urethra [66].

From a clinical point of view, CIS may be classified as [67]:

  • Primary: isolated CIS with no previous or concurrent papillary tumours and no previous CIS;
  • Secondary: CIS detected during follow-up of patients with a previous tumour that was not CIS;
  • Concurrent: CIS in the presence of any other urothelial tumour in the bladder.

4.7. Inter- and intra-observer variability in staging and grading

There is significant variability among pathologists for the diagnosis of CIS, for which agreement is achieved in only 70–78% of cases [68] (LE: 2a). There is also inter-observer variability in the classification of stage T1 vs. Ta tumours and tumour grading in both the 1973 and 2022 classifications. The general conformity between pathologists in staging and grading is 50–60% [69-72] (LE: 2a). The WHO 2004/2016 classification provides slightly better reproducibility than the 1973 classification [63].

4.8. Subtypes of urothelial carcinoma

Currently the following differentiations of UC are used [73,74]:

1. urothelial carcinoma (more than 90% of all cases);
2. urothelial carcinomas with partial squamous and/or glandular or divergent differentiation;
3. micropapillary UC;
4. nested/microcystic variant;
5. large nested variant;
6. microtubular UC;
7. plasmacytoid, signet ring
8. lymphoepithelioma-like;
9. giant cell, diffuse, undifferentiated;
10. sarcomatoid UC;
11. some UCs with other rare differentiations;
12. urothelial carcinomas with partial NE (neuroendocrine differentiation, % to be given);
13. pure neuroendocrine carcinoma (including small and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas [Chapter NE carcinomas in the genitourinary tract]).

In the new WHO 2022 all subtypes are considered HG [54]. The percentage of subtype in the specimen should be reported since it has been shown to be of prognostic value [75]. The majority are MIBC which is pure HG UC, and no more than 15–30% are non-muscle invasive [2,75-82] (LE: 3).

4.9. Tumour markers and molecular classification

Tumour markers and their prognostic role have been investigated [83-87]. These methods, in particular complex approaches such as the stratification of patients based on molecular classification, are promising but have not yet been recommended by any pathological organisation and are therefore not suitable for routine application [56,88,89].

4.10. Summary of evidence and guidelines for bladder cancer classification

Summary of evidence

LE

The depth of invasion (staging) is classified according to the TNM classification.

2a

Tumours confined to the mucosa and invading the lamina propria are classified as stage Ta and T1, respectively. Flat, high-grade tumours that are confined to the mucosa are classified as CIS (Tis).

2a

Histological grading of urothelial NMIBC is classified according to the WHO 1973 (G1–G3) and/or the WHO 2004/2016 (PUNLMP, LG/HG) systems.

2a

Both the WHO 1973 and the 2004/2016 classification systems are prognostic for progression, but not for recurrence.

2a

The WHO 1973 is a stronger prognosticator of progression in TaT1 NMIBC than the WHO 2004/2022. However, a 3-tier hybrid (LG/G1-G2, HG/G2 & HG/G3) or a 4-tier hybrid LG/G1, LG/G2, HG/G2 and HG/G3) combination of both classification systems proved to be superior to either classification system alone.

2a

The WHO 2004/2022 classification provides better reproducibility than the 1973 classification.

2a

PUNLMP lesions have the same prognosis as Ta LG carcinomas.

2a

Recommendations

Strength rating

Use the 2017 TNM system for classification of the depth of tumour invasion (staging).

Strong

Use both the 1973 and 2004/2022 WHO classification systems, or a hybrid system.

Weak

Do not use the term ‘superficial’ bladder cancer.

Strong