Molecular biology of urothelial carcinoma

Objective: Urothelial carcinoma (UC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Extensive genomic data analysis revealed that UC has a complex molecular character. From the perspective of cancer hallmarks reviewed the molecular biology participated in the tumorigenesis of UC. Data Sources: We inspected the results of multiple studies of UC focusing on the hallmarks of cancer. Results: UC has distinctive molecular pathways involved in sustained proliferative signaling, evasion of growth suppressors, resistance to cell death, promotion of replicative immortality, induction of angiogenesis, activation of invasion and metastasis, genome instability and mutation, tumor-promoting inflammation, reprogramming of energy metabolism, and evasion of immune destruction. Conclusion: From the perspective of the hallmark of cancer, we revealed the many-sided biological behavior of UC.