Abstract: Methods are provided for assaying bladder-associated samples. Aspects of the methods include detecting per cell programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in a bladder-associated sample. In some instances, the methods include detecting whether an immune cell that expresses PD-Ll above a predetermined threshold is present in a bladder-associated sample and/or detecting a PD-L1-aneuploid-to-PD-L1-epithelial ratio of a bladder-associated sample. Aspects of the methods may also include identifying whether a malignant bladder-associated neoplasia is present. Methods are also provided for treating a subject for a malignant bladder-associated neoplasia, wherein aspects of such methods include administering a therapeutic to a subject having an identified malignant bladder-associated neoplasia. In addition, kits that find use in practicing the subject methods are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods involving the assaying of a labeled cell suspension, e.g., to detect cancer-related cells, populations ON thereof and/or screen for metastatic cancer. Labeled cell suspensions may be assayed to detect whether a tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) population is present in a cellular suspension of a subject. Cancer-related cell populations of interest include, e.g., those expressing one or more markers, including where the markers are members of a marker panel. Markers assayed may vary depending on the context and may include protein markers, nucleic acid markers, cell cycle markers, DNA content markers, and the like. Useful markers include one or more immune checkpoint markers and/or one or more immune cell-type markers, including where the marker(s) assayed are part of one or more panels of markers. Also provided are methods of treating a subject for a neoplasia based on the outcome of an assay of a labeled cell suspension of sample from a subject.