Urothelial Carcinoma
Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer diagnosed in the world[1]. The most common form, known as urothelial carcinoma (UC), accounts for about 90% of all bladder cancers.[6]
UNDERSTANDING UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA
Bladder cancer is the 10th most common cancer diagnosed in the world.1 It was estimated to account for more than half a million new cases and approximately 200,000 deaths from the disease globally in 2018.[1]
About 12% of cases are diagnosed at the locally advanced or metastatic stage,[1] which means the disease has spread from its primary site to lymph nodes or other places in the body.[2],[3]
There are several types of bladder cancer, but the most common form is urothelial carcinoma (UC), accounting for about 90% of all bladder cancers.[4] UC starts in the urothelial cells that line the inside of the bladder.[5] Symptoms of UC can include hematuria, or blood in the urine; nocturia, or frequent urination during the night; or painful and urgent urination.[6],[7]
This type of bladder cancer becomes harder to treat as it advances, spreading through the layers of the bladder wall. With time, the cancer can spread to other parts of the body.[7]
For patients with metastatic UC, the five-year relative survival rate is 5%.[2] As with other cancers, treatment for UC depends on the stage of the disease and the patient’s age and general health.[8] Options currently include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy.[9] Combination platinum-based chemotherapy is currently the first-line standard of care for patients with advanced disease, and while a majority of patients experience high initial response rates, most patients will ultimately experience disease progression within nine months after initiation of treatment.[10],[11] Given the poor prognosis for patients with advanced bladder cancer whose disease progresses after first-line chemotherapy, there is an urgent need for additional treatment options that improve overall survival.[12]
References:
- Bray F, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA: A Cancer Journal. 2018;68(6):394-424.
- SEER. Cancer Stat Facts: Bladder Cancer. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/urinb.html. Accessed April 2020.
- National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Metastatic. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/metastatic. Accessed April 2020.
- National Cancer Institute. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Locally Advanced. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/locallyadvanced-cancer. Accessed April 2020.
- Cancer.net. Bladder Cancer: Introduction. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/bladder-cancer/introduction. Accessed April 2020.
- American Cancer Society. What is Bladder Cancer? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/about/what-is-bladder-cancer.html. Accessed April 2020.
- Aziz A, et al. Comparative Analysis of Gender-Related Differences in Symptoms and Referral Patterns prior to Initial Diagnosis of Urothelial Carcinoma of the Bladder: A Prospective Cohort Study. Urol Int. 2015;94:37-44.
- Bladder & Bowel Community. Nocturia. https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bladder/bladder-conditions-and-symptoms/nocturia/. Accessed April 2020.
- Cancer.org. Bladder Cancer: Treating by Stage, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/treating/by-stage.html Accessed: May 27, 2020.
- Cancer.net. Bladder Cancer: Types of Treatment, https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/bladder-cancer/types-treatment Accessed: May 27, 2020.
- Bukhari N, et al. Update on the Treatment of Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma. ScientificWorldJournal. 2018;2018:5682078.
- Von der Maase H, et al. Long-term Survival Results of a Randomized Trial Comparing Gemcitabine Plus Cisplatin, With Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin, Plus Cisplatin in patients With Bladder Cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2005;23(21):4602-4608.
- Dietrich B, Srinivas S. Urothelial carcinoma: the evolving landscape of immunotherapy for patients with advanced disease. Res Rep Urol. 2018;10:7-16.