The stromal microenvironment as a co-organizer of bladder carcinogenesis and progression

CORE B ABSTRACT Core B [Spatial Transcriptomics/Proteomics & Bioinformatics Core] will serve as a centralized supporting hub to provide service for i) retrospective collection of NMIBCs and clinical outcome, as well as prospective collection of NMIBCs, ii) spatial transcriptomics and bioinformatics analysis, to assist the three Projects in achieving their individual and common goals, i.e., to investigate the stromal microenvironment as a co-organizer for bladder carcinogenesis and progression, and iii) full commitment to early tissue dissemination and data sharing. The Core has the following aims: Aim 1: Collection of human NMIBCs and clinical outcome, for centralized distribution. Aim 2: To generate a comprehensive spatial map of bladder cancer tumor microenvironment (TME). Aim 3: Dissemination of tissues collected, or data generated from aim 1-3 for the research community. The centralized operation in Core B is specifically organized and designed to maximize its output by supporting complementary aims from Project 1, 2, and 3 to provide a comprehensive spatial map of the human bladder tumor and stromal microenvironment, with emphasis in early lesions. Centralized tissue collection and data generation, followed by pathologic and bioinformatic analyses will provide a streamlined process to visualize the bladder TME and its relationship to progressor vs non-progressor MIBC patients.