Bladder Cancer Research Needed

by John W. Cross, Ph.D.

The Problem:

Bladder cancer, as we know is the 5th leading form of cancer, the 4th leading form of cancer in men.  In the United States roughly 50,000 people receive a new diagnosis of bladder cancer each year.  Treatment of the disease is a mixed bag.  If diagnosed early, before invasion of the bladder muscle wall, papillomas and carcinomas in-situ are highly treatable.  Most of us are familiar with TUR and BCG therapy.  Together, with early diagnosis, treatment is generally successful.  In fact compared to some other major forms of cancer, treatment of bladder cancer is considerably more successful.

But for those of us with invasive bladder tumors, TUR and BCG therapy are inadequate.  Chemotherapy and radiation treatments are available, but generally less satisfactory.  Even when TUR and BCG therapy are appropriate, recurrence of tumors leads to continuing cycles of cystoscopies and therapy.  Better techniques are need for early detection of tumors, before muscle invasion has occurred, and treatments are needed which more effectively prevent recurrence of tumors contained within the bladder without repetitious cycles of cystoscopy, TUR and BCG.

The Solution:

The advance of medical science depends of research.  Typically research may be either basic or applied.  Major medical advances do not always require basic research, but there is no way to know in advance.  The history of medicine is replete with stories of how dedicated physicians failed to succeed until new information or new drugs became available to guide their efforts.

The unique attributes of bladder cancer require unique approaches.  Bladder cancer is different from other forms of cancer.  This fact requires that both basic and applied research be targeted to bladder tumors.  Although research on melanoma or breast cancer may sometimes shed light on aspects of bladder cancer, such research alone is of limited usefulness in developing treatments for bladder cancer.

Improved bladder reconstructions are also needed.  Until improved bladder cancer therapies are invented, many bladder cancer patients must submit to cystectomies.  Research has shown that re-growth of a normal bladder is possible, but more research is needed to develop this area into a standard treatment.  There is much promise to this and other cutting-edge research.  

What is your wish list for bladder cancer research?

What is needed is to encourage urologists and basic scientists to perform more targeted research aimed at improved diagnosis, treatment and reconstruction of bladder cancer.  One way to do this is through a bill before the US Congress, the Training and Research in Urology (TRU) Bill, HR1002. 

Importantly, we who are concerned about bladder cancer need to become better organized to fight for these goals.  We must not allow bladder cancer to remain so unfamiliar to the general public.  The squeeky wheel gets the grease!