Multidisciplinary approach to muscle-invasive bladder cancer is imperative to achieve optimal long-term cancer control.
Radical cystectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and urinary diversion have been the mainstay of therapy for decades. Laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgical techniques are becoming increasingly prevalent, and have shown short-term benefits in terms of blood loss, less pain, and smaller incisions. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery results in absolute survival advantage and this approach is encouraged in appropriate patients. A similar survival advantage with the use of adjuvant chemotherapy has yet to be convincingly demonstrated. Bladder-preservation protocols involving a visibly complete transurethral resection followed by chemoradiation may be a feasible option for select patients.
Written by:
Khurana KK, Garcia JA, Tendulkar RD, Stephenson AJ. Are you the author?
Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Reference: Surg Oncol Clin N Am. 2013 Apr;22(2):357-73.
doi: 10.1016/j.soc.2012.12.008
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23453340
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