Drs. Eila Skinner and Yair Lotan discuss the recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Sophia Kamran, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, discusses bladder-sparing trimodality therapy (TMT) as an effective treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Dr Kamran highlights combining immunotherapy (IO) with TMT, specifically with radiation therapy whereby data has demonstrated synergy which may improve clinical outcomes such as survival data. Multiple trials, including the Phase III SWOG/NRG 1806 (NCT03775265) study investigating the addition of atezolizumab to the standard of care (SOC) TMT therapy, will provide an abundance of data to aid in the understanding of how IO will improve upon outcomes for MIBC. Hypofractionated radiation therapy may provide the means to shorten the duration of treatment with radiation, however, early data indicates increased toxicities when combined with IO. Additional information is required to decipher which patients demonstrate these increased toxicities. Adaptive radiation therapy may provide the solution to supplying hypofractioanted radiation therapy in combination with IO. This interview took place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2022 in San Francisco, CA.

Sia Daneshmand, MD, Associate Professor of Urology and Director of Clinical Research at the University of Southern California, describes the current landscape of muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment, highlighting developments in radical cystectomy and chemotherapy. He observes that while radical cystectomy has long been the gold standard, efforts are being made to preserve reproductive organs in female patients who have low-stage disease. Dr. Daneshmand also notes the significant number of neoadjuvant chemotherapy phase II trials currently underway. While studies examining adjuvant chemotherapy have shown promise, the limitations of these trials necessitate further research. Similarly, research comparing super-extended lymph node dissection (LND) with extended LND have yielded insignificant p-values, but absolute numbers demonstrate a positive upward survival trend over 5 years. Dr. Daneshmand concludes that additional clinical trials will reveal the optimal combination and sequencing of treatment options.

We stand and advocate to embrace equity for women affected by bladder cancer around the world.

Although bladder cancer is often considered a disease of men of older age, bladder cancer also affects women. Around 1 in 4 cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in women with over 130,000 women diagnosed with bladder cancer every year.

Krysta (Canada) was diagnosed in 2022 at the age of 37 and shares her bladder cancer journey with us.

Raising awareness and moving the conversation forward to address the bias women face will allow female bladder cancer patients to receive better care and create a positive change for all!

This video explains how doctors treat advanced bladder cancer.

North Bristol NHS Trust Patient Information Video re non muscle invasive bladder cancer

Jeffrey M. Holzbeierlein, MD, Director of the Division of Urologic Oncology at the University of Kansas Hospital and Director of Clinical Research for the Urology Department at KUMC, talks about how to manage high-grade T1 bladder cancer (HGT1BC). He discusses 5-year progression rates of HGT1BC, pathological substratification of the disease, and risk calculators to estimate patient progression. Dr. Holzbeierlein concludes by discussing enhanced cystoscopy, the value of re-resection, and the importance of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) maintenance in HGT1BC.