Abstract

The goal of this article is to provide recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer. The diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer is made by pathologic evaluation after transurethral resection. Recently, a molecular classification has been proposed. Staging of muscle-invasive bladder cancer must be done by computed tomography scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis and classified on the basis of UICC system. Radical cystectomy and lymph node dissection are the treatment of choice. In muscle-invasive bladder cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be recommended in patients with good performance status and no renal function impairment. Although there is insufficient evidence for use of adjuvant chemotherapy, its use must be considered when neoadjuvant therapy had not been administered in high-risk patients. Multimodality bladder-preserving treatment in localized disease is an alternative in selected and compliant patients for whom cystectomy is not considered for clinical or personal reasons. In metastatic disease, the first-line treatment for patients must be based on cisplatin-containing combination. Vinflunine is the only drug approved for use in second line in Europe. Recently, immunotherapy treatment has demonstrated activity in this setting.

Highlights

  • Following smoking, occupational exposure to carcinogens, namely aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic, hydrocarbons, and chlorinated hydrocarbons is viewed as the second most important risk factor for urothelial bladder cancer (BC)

  • In muscle-invasive bladder cancer, neoadjuvant chemotherapy should be recommended in patients with good performance status and no renal function impairment

  • Routine FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) is not recommended for routine initial staging on muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Occupational exposure to carcinogens, namely aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic, hydrocarbons, and chlorinated hydrocarbons is viewed as the second most important risk factor for urothelial BC. Europe has one of the highest incidence rates of bladder cancer in the world. According to cancer registry data, the highest incidence rates in men were reported in Southern Europe, in Spain (age-standardized rate (ASR) = 36.7 per 100,000) and Italy (ASR = 33.2 per 100,000). Mortality rates in European men were by far the highest recorded worldwide (e.g., Spain: ASR = 8.2 per 100,000). Smoking is recognized as the most important risk factor for urothelial bladder cancer (BC) (ever-smokers are considered to have a 2.5 times higher risk of developing this tumor than nonsmokers) [3] and is estimated to account for 50% of tumors (former tobacco smoking RR 2.04, 95% CI 1.85–2.25, p \ 0.001; current tobacco smoking RR 3.47, 95% CI 3.07–3.91, p \ 0.001 when compared to never smokers) [4]

Methodology
Findings
Compliance with ethical standards
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call