Effects of multi and selective targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors on function and signaling of different bladder cancer cells.

•mRNA analysis of RTK-signaling, proliferation and apoptosis separate bladder cancer cells in epithelial and mesenchymal like clusters.•The functional cell responses towards BGJ398 and TKI258 treatment are heterogeneous.•BGJ398 and TKI258 have cell specific effects on signaling with respect to p21 and MAP-kinase pathway.•Drug actions of BGJ398 and TKI258 may result in different therapeutic outcome depending on the genetic background of bladder cancer cells.