Abstract
The definitive treatment for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) who fail to respond to intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is cystectomy. However, many patients who experience recurrence after BCG are either poor operative candidates or refuse surgery due to the long-term impact on their quality of life. In the last decade, there has been an increased interest in alternative intravesical therapies, and several novel chemotherapeutics have emerged as promising agents for high-risk NMIBC patients unable or unwilling to undergo cystectomy. Additionally, extended treatment regimens with combined induction and maintenance therapy have been investigated, and may increase the durability of response to these new agents, as has been shown for conventional intravesical therapy.
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Disclosure
Dr. Mitchell Benson received a Departmental Grant for Urologic Oncology Research from the T.J. Martell Foundation.
Dr. LaMont Barlow reported no conflicts of interest relevant to this article.
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Barlow, L.J., Benson, M.C. Experience with Newer Intravesical Chemotherapy for High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. Curr Urol Rep 14, 65–70 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-013-0312-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11934-013-0312-2