Although radical cystectomy is still the treatment of choice for patients with infiltrating bladder cancer, there is growing evidence of the effectiveness of a conservative approach.
Developed as a treatment of need for elderly or unfit patients unable to undergo radical cystectomy, conservative therapy is becoming a true alternative to surgery for highly selected patients. Although transurethral bladder resection, external radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy can control the disease as single treatments, the best results have been observed when they are combined. Moreover, new irradiation techniques and new-generation drugs are now being tested in an attempt to improve disease control further. Conservative management requires the multidisciplinary involvement of different specialties in order to give patients a real alternative to surgical treatment.
Written by:
Caffo O, Veccia A, Fellin G, Russo L, Mussari S, Galligioni E. Are you the author?
Medical Oncology Department, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
Reference: Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2012 Oct 19. pii: S1040-8428(12)00194-1.
doi: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2012.09.011
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23088957
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