Components of Processed Meat May Increase Risk of Bladder Cancer 08/09/2010
People who consume a large amount of nitrite and nitrate from processed meat may be at an increased risk for developing bladder cancer, according to a study published in Cancer. Bladder cancer is diagnosed in as many as 60,000 individuals annually in the United States. It is much more common in ...

Study Evaluates Incidence of Lymphedema Resulting from Cancer Treatment 08/08/2010
A systematic review of 47 studies evaluating treatment for melanoma, head and neck cancer, genitourinary cancers, gynecologic cancers, and sarcoma indicates that lymphedema is a common side effect of treatment for these diseases. These findings were recently published in the journal Cancer.[1] Lymphedema is the buildup of lymph fluid in ...

Painters May Have Higher Risk of Bladder Cancer 07/28/2010
Occupational exposures appear to increase bladder cancer risk in painters, according to a study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Workers in certain occupations may face an increased risk of cancer due to exposures that they encounter on the job. Exposure to radiation, potentially hazardous chemicals, or second-hand smoke may all ...

Exposure to Aromatic Amines Poses Long-term Risk of Bladder Cancer 06/24/2010
Workers exposed to aromatic amines continued to experience an increased risk of bladder cancer even 30 years after exposure, according to the results of a follow-up study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1] Aromatic amines are a group of well-known bladder carcinogens. Most countries have discontinued exposure ...

Vitamins C, D, and E Don’t Reduce Risk of Bladder Cancer 06/06/2010
Long-term use of vitamin C, vitamin D, or vitamin E does not appear to reduce the risk of bladder cancer. These results were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Urological Association. Each year in the United States, close to 53,000 men and 18,000 women are diagnosed with bladder.

Study Evaluates Long-term Effects of Arsenic in Drinking Water on Bladder Cancer 06/03/2010
Death rate from bladder cancer continues to rise 20 years after exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water. These findings were recently presented at the 105th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).[1] Drinking water may contain arsenic resulting from natural deposits in the earth or ...

Radical Cystectomy Improves Survival in Stage II Bladder Cancer 05/04/2010
Radical cystectomy can improve outcomes among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer but appears to be underused in this patient population. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Insitute. The bladder is a hollow organ located in the pelvis. Its primary function is to ...

Well-done Red Meat Increases Bladder Cancer Risk 04/27/2010
Some individuals are more genetically susceptible to this risk. High consumption of red meat and/or fried meats such as chicken or fish increase the risk of bladder cancer, especially among individuals who already carry a genetic risk, according to the results of a study presented at the annual ...

Combined Modality Therapy Preserves Bladder and Offers Long-term Survival in Invasive Bladder Cancer 03/18/2010
Combined modality therapy (CMT) preserves the bladder, achieves complete response (CR), and offers long-term survival in approximately 70% of patients with invasive bladder cancer, according to the results of a 15-year study presented at 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Symposium March 5-7 in San ...

Cystoscopy Alone Is the Most Cost-effective Way to Monitor for Recurrence of Bladder Cancer 03/09/2010
The addition of a urine test to standard cystoscopy screening in order to monitor for bladder cancer recurrence unnecessarily increases the cost of monitoring as well as the risk for a false-positive result and does not improve tumor detection, according to the results of a study ...

Some Chinese Herbs May Increase Risk of Urinary Tract Cancer 02/18/2010
The use of Chinese herbal products that contain aristolochic acid is associated with an increased risk of urinary tract cancer, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.[1] Previous research has indicated that Chinese herbal products ...

Bladder Cancer Overview 10/19/2008
Overview The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. Its primary function is to store urine, the waste that is produced when the kidneys filter the blood. Urine passes from the two kidneys into the bladder through two tubes called ureters and urine leaves the bladder through another tube ...

Home Screening May Reduce Death from Bladder Cancer 11/06/2006
According to results recently published in the journal Cancer, at-home screening for bladder cancer may reduce deaths from the disease among men who are 50 years or older.The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. Its primary function is to store urine, the waste that is produced ...

Children's Exposure to Second-hand Smoke Increases Risk of Bladder Cancer 10/18/2006
According to an article recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, individuals who smoke and children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are at an increased risk of developing bladder cancer. The bladder is an organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine after it is released from the ...

Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Linked to Increased Cancer Risk 09/18/2006
According to a review published in the Annals of Oncology, occupational exposure to a class of chemicals known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may result in a modestly increased risk of lung or bladder cancer. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete burning ...

Smoking Increases Bladder Cancer Risk 09/13/2006
According to a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, risk of bladder cancer increases with duration and amount of smoking. The bladder is an organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine after it is released from the kidneys until it is passed out of the ...

Gemzar® and Eloxatin® Promising for Advanced Bladder Cancer 08/21/2006
According to an article recently published in the Annals of Oncology, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) is an effective and well-tolerated regimen for advanced bladder cancer. Patients who are not able to tolerate chemotherapy regimens including Platinol® (ciplatin) may be considered candidates for Eloxatin/Gemzar. The ...

Intravesical Taxotere® Effective in Recurrent Superficial Bladder Cancer 07/21/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, administration of the chemotherapy agent Taxotere® (docetaxel) directly into the bladder appears to be an effective treatment option for patients with early bladder cancer that has recurred following standard therapies. Bladder cancer is a common cancer; approximately 55,000 ...

DNA in Urine May Detect Bladder Cancer 07/20/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, testing a small number of genes in a urine sample may help detect bladder cancer. These results need further confirmation, but may provide a non-invasive, effective method to screen for bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is common; ...

Age Influences Response to Bladder Cancer Immunotherapy 06/19/2006
Among patients with superficial bladder cancer, response to intravesical immunotherapy (immunotherapy drugs administered directly into the bladder) appears to decline with age. These results were published in The Journal of Urology. Bladder cancer is a common cancer; approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. Superficial ...

Screening for Bladder Cancer from Age 50 and Older Reduces Mortality 05/30/2006
According to results recently presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Urologic Association (AUA), screening individuals over the age of 50 years for bladder cancer reduces mortality.The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. Its primary function is to store urine, the waste that is ...

Repeated Surgery May Benefit Patients with Stage I Bladder Cancer 05/23/2006
Among patients with stage I bladder cancer, repeated transurethral resection may improve patient outcomes. These results were published in The Journal of Urology . Bladder cancer is a common cancer; approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Stage I bladder cancer refers to cancer that has ...

Molecular Technique May Improve Detection of Bladder Cancer Recurrences 05/22/2006
According to a review published in the journal Urology, a laboratory technique known as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) may allow for earlier and more complete detection of bladder cancer recurrence. Bladder cancer is common; approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Superficial bladder cancer refers ...

High-Volume Hospitals Offer Better Outcomes After Radical Cystectomy and Radical Prostatectomy 05/08/2006
Among patients undergoing radical cystectomy (removal of bladder) or radical prostatectomy (removal of prostate), the probability of dying during hospitalization was lower at hospitals that performed a greater number of these specific procedures (high-volume hospitals). Hospital volume was not linked with in-hospital mortality after radical nephrectomy (removal of kidney). ...

Delay in Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer Can Compromise Outcomes 03/15/2006
According to an article recently published in the Journal of Urology, delaying a cystectomy (surgical procedure to remove the bladder) by more than 3 months following diagnosis of bladder cancer can affect outcomes of a patient. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. Its primary function is ...

Less Toxic Chemotherapy Regimen for Metastatic Urothelial Cancer Shows Promise 03/15/2006
According to the results of a phase II clinical trial published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination P-HDFL (cisplatin, high-dose 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin) reduced or eliminated detectable cancer in 63% of patients with metastatic urothelial cancer. There were few serious toxic effects. Urothelial cancer develops in the lining of ...

Adjuvant Chemotherapy May Improve Survival with Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer 02/13/2006
A pooled analysis of five small phase III clinical trials suggests that chemotherapy after surgery for muscle-invasive bladder cancer improves survival and reduces recurrences. These results were published in the journal Cancer. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. Its primary function is to store urine, the ...

Patterns of Proteins in Urine Help Detect Bladder Cancer 02/03/2006
According to an early, online article published recently in the Lancet Oncology, specific patterns of proteins (polypeptides) that are voided in a urine sample provide high accuracy in detecting bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is diagnosed in 55,000-60,000 individuals annually in the U.S. If detected and treated early, prior to spread, cure ...

Addition of NMP22® BladderChek® Improves Detection of Recurrent Bladder Cancer 01/18/2006
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the addition of the NMP22® BladderChek® test to cystoscopy improves the detection of recurrent bladder cancer compared to cystoscopy alone. Bladder cancer is common; approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Superficial ...

BCG/Mitomycin C Improves Outcomes Compared to BCG Alone in Stage I Bladder Cancer 01/03/2006
According to a recent article published in Lancet Oncology, the combination of BCG plus electromotive mitomycin C improves outcomes compared to BCG alone in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is a common cancer; approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Superficial bladder cancer ...

Fluorescence Guiding Reduces Recurrences in Early Bladder Cancer 11/30/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Urology, the use of the photodynamic agent 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) during the surgical removal of early bladder cancer significantly reduces cancer recurrences at 5 years following diagnosis. Bladder cancer is a common cancer—approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the ...

“Marker” in Urine May Detect Bladder Cancer 10/26/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), levels of activity of the enzyme (protein) telomerase in urine may be an effective and non-invasive marker to detect bladder cancer. Further testing is necessary to confirm these findings. Incidence of bladder cancer is common; ...

Spread of Bladder Cancer to Lymph or Blood Vessels Linked to Worse Prognosis 09/22/2005
Among lymph-node negative bladder cancer patients, survival after radical cystectomy is worse if there is evidence of cancer in lymph or blood vessels, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology . The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. Bladder cancer ...

Urine Test Promising for Detection of Bladder Cancer Recurrence 09/12/2005
A test using monoclonal antibodies to detect bladder cancer cells in urine may be an effective and non-invasive method for identifying bladder cancer recurrence, according to a study published in The Journal of Urology. Bladder cancer is a common cancer; Approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US each year. Superficial ...

Uncertain Whether P53 Predicts Bladder Cancer Prognosis 09/06/2005
In spite of a decade of research, a review published in The Lancet Oncology concludes that it is still not clear whether levels of the protein P53 can be used to predict recurrence, progression, and survival of patients with bladder cancer. The bladder is an organ in the lower abdomen ...

Genetic Mutations Associated with One-Third of Bladder Cancer 08/19/2005
According to a recent article published in The Lancet, specific genetic mutations may account for nearly one-third of all bladder cancers. With the emerging role of gene expression profiling in the clinical setting of oncology, these findings may lead to promising outcomes in the future. The bladder is an organ ...

Hexvix® Improves Detection of Early Bladder Cancer 08/16/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Urology, detection of early bladder cancer is more successful with hexaminolevulinate (HAL) (Hexvix®)) and cystoscopy than with standard cystoscopy alone. Bladder cancer is a common cancer—approximately 55,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. The standard diagnostic ...

Older Patients Fare Well After Xeloda® and Radiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer 08/09/2005
Patients with bladder cancer who are not candidates for surgery or cisplatin-based chemotherapy appear to do well after treatment with the chemotherapy drug Xeloda® (capecitabine) and radiation therapy, according to an article published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics. The bladder is an organ in the lower ...

More Patients, Better Outcomes After Surgery for Urological Cancer 08/01/2005
Patients have better outcomes after surgery for urological cancers (such as prostate or bladder cancer) if they are treated at hospitals or by surgeons who treat a larger number of urological cancer patients, according to an article in The Journal of Urology. The relationship between ...

Less Toxic Adjuvant Chemotherapy Regimen for Patients with Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer Evaluated 07/25/2005
A recently published article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports that a combination of the drugs cisplatin (Platinol®) and methotrexate (CM) produce similar rates of progression-free survival and may be better tolerated than the “gold standard” regimen of MTX, vinblastine (Velbe®), epirubicin (Ellence®) and Platinol (M-VEC) for adjuvant ...

Taxotere® and Gemzar® is Effective for Treatment of Advanced Bladder Cancer 03/10/2005
According to a recent article published in the British Journal of Cancer, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Gemzar® (gemcitabine) is an effective and well tolerated treatment option as initial therapy for patients with advanced bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in ...

Gene-Based Test, UroVysion™, Approved to Aid in Diagnosis of Bladder Cancer 02/24/2005
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved UroVysion™, a test that identifies genetic mutations, as an aid in the diagnosis of bladder cancer. The approval is for patients who have blood in their urine and are suspected of possibly having bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is the fifth most ...

NMP22 Protein: A Marker for Bladder Cancer 02/23/2005
According to an article recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a urine test that can detect levels of a protein called NMP22 can increase the accuracy of detecting bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the United States and 13,000 people die ...

FISH Testing from Urine Samples May Predict Risk of Cancer Progression in Patients with Superficial Bladder Cancer 02/16/2005
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Urology , laboratory testing (referred to as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)) from a urine sample in patients with superficial bladder cancer may help predict a patient's response to therapy, as well as their risk of developing more advanced ...

Aggressive Surgical Treatment of Bladder Cancer Benefits Patients over the Age of 80 09/09/2004
Researchers from the University of Michigan have reported that aggressive surgical management of bladder cancer in patients over the age of 80 may improve survival. Bladder cancer occurs predominantly in elderly men and less frequently in women and younger men. Most bladder cancers are not diagnosed until they have become ...

Neoadjuvant Taxotere® and Platinol® Produces Favorable Outcomes in Patients with Bladder Cancer 08/26/2004
Researchers from Greece have reported that chemotherapy treatment with Taxotere® (docetaxel) and Platinol® (cisplatin) appears to produce anti-cancer responses and good long-term outcomes in patients with bladder cancer that has spread to surrounding muscle. These results were reported in the September 2004 issue of European Urology, the official scientific ...

Extent of Surgery Affects Survival of Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer 07/21/2004
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, patients undergoing surgery following chemotherapy for locally advanced bladder cancer have improved survival if more than 10 lymph nodes are removed and there is no detectable cancer in the margins of the surgical specimen.   The bladder is a ...

NMP22 BladderChek® Improves Detection of Bladder Cancer 05/28/2004
According to results recently presented at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Urological Association, a urine test called NMP22 BladderChek® improves the detection of bladder cancer. The bladder is a hollow organ located in the lower pelvis that is used to store urine. Standard detection methods ...

MVAC Superior to DC in Advanced Bladder Cancer 12/29/2003
According to results published in an early on-line version from the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy regimen referred to as MVAC appears superior to the chemotherapy regimen DC for the treatment of advanced bladder cancer. However, MVAC is associated with significantly more severe side effects than DC. ...

Alimta® Provides Responses in Recurrent Bladder Cancer 12/01/2003
According to results presented at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXI, Alimta® (pemetrexed) appears to be an active agent in the treatment of recurrent bladder cancer. It is estimated that approximately 54,000 Americans are diagnosed with bladder cancer and 12,000 die from the disease every year. Transitional cell carcinoma ...

Surgeon Volume Directly Related to Surgical Outcomes 12/01/2003
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, operative mortality, or death related to a surgical procedure, is significantly reduced if surgeons have performed a large volume of the surgical procedure. 1 Several prior publications have indicated that outcomes of patients undergoing surgery may be ...

Addition of Hyperthermia Reduces Recurrences in Superficial Bladder Cancer 12/01/2003
According to a recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, local hyperthermia added to intravesical chemotherapy significantly reduces the risk of a recurrence in superficial bladder cancer compared to intravesical chemotherapy alone. Bladder cancer is a common cancer, with approximately 55,000 new cases diagnosed in the United ...

Further Evidence Supporting Taxotere® plus Gemzar® in Inoperable Bladder Cancer 11/17/2003
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination Taxotere® (docetaxel) plus Gemzar® (gemcitabine) is effective and well tolerated as treatment for inoperable, advanced bladder cancer. 1 The bladder is a muscular organ located in the lower abdomen that serves to ...

Chemotherapy Plus Radiation Increase Bladder Preservation and Quality of Life in Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer 10/28/2003
According to results recently presented at the 45th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology, the combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy improves bladder preservation and quality of life in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer. The bladder is a hollow organ in the ...

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Significantly Improves Survival in Bladder Cancer 09/05/2003
According to results recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine, neoadjuvant chemotherapy appears to improve survival in patients undergoing a cystectomy for bladder cancer. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. Its primary function is to store urine, the waste that is produced when ...

Gemzar®/Taxotere® Active in Advanced Bladder Cancer 07/21/2003
According to results recently presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and Taxotere® (docetaxel) provides modestly superior results compared to Gemzar®/Paraplatin® (carboplatin) in patients with advanced bladder cancer. The bladder is a ...

Gemzar®-Combinations Effective in Advanced Bladder Cancer 06/19/2003
According to results recently presented at the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Gemzar® plus Platinol® or Paraplatin® are both active chemotherapy combinations in the treatment of advanced bladder cancer. The bladder is a muscular organ located in the lower abdomen that serves to ...

Hexvix® Improves Detection of Bladder Cancer 04/09/2003
Results from a recent clinical trial further validate the improved effectiveness of the photosensitizer Hexvix® compared to standard cystoscopy in the diagnosis of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is a common cancer, with approximately 55,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. The standard diagnostic procedure for patients ...

P53 Mutation May Help Determine Prognosis for Bladder Cancer 02/17/2003
According to a recent article in The Journal of Urology, the presence of p53 mutations may help indicate the prognosis for patients with bladder cancer. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. Transitional cell carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer, refers ...

Immunocyt" Enhances Detection of Bladder Cancer 02/17/2003
According to a recent article published in The Journal of Urology, the addition of Immunocyt™ to standard testing for bladder cancer appears to greatly enhance accuracy of detection of cancer. The bladder is a hollow organ located in the lower pelvis that is used to store urine. Standard detection ...

Gemzar® and Ellence® Represent Alternative Therapy for Bladder Cancer Patients with Impaired Renal Function 09/30/2002
According to a recent article published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) plus Ellence® (epirubicin) may represent an alternative therapeutic regimen for patients with bladder cancer who cannot tolerate standard chemotherapy. The bladder is a hollow organ located in the ...

Urine Test May Accurately Detect Bladder Cancer Recurrence 09/25/2002
According to recent results published in the International Journal of Cancer, a urine test that can detect a genetic mutation (error) referred to as microsatellite instability (MSI) appears to accurately detect the recurrence of bladder cancer. Bladder cancer is a common cancer, with approximately 55,000 new cases diagnosed in ...

Photosensitizer Significantly Improves Detection of Bladder Cancer 09/05/2002
According to results from a recent clinical trial, the photosensitizer Hexvix® appears to dramatically increase the detection of early-stage bladder cancer compared with traditional cystoscopy. Bladder cancer is a common cancer, with approximately 55,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States each year. Unfortunately, most bladder cancers are ...

Mortality from Some Cancer Surgeries Reduced in Large-Volume Hospitals 04/15/2002
According to a recent article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, death related to surgical procedures (surgical mortality) for some cancers may be significantly reduced if patients receive treatment in hospitals that perform large volumes of the surgical procedure annually. The surgical removal of cancer is ...

Gemzar®/Taxol® Effective for Recurrent Bladder Cancer 02/12/2002
According to recent results published in the journal Cancer, the chemotherapy combination consisting of Gemzar® and Taxol® appears effective for patients with advanced bladder cancer that has recurred following treatment with Platinol®-based chemotherapy. The bladder is a muscular organ located in the lower abdomen that serves to store urine. ...

Novel Agent Appears Promising for Solid Cancers 02/09/2002
SCH66336, a novel ras inhibitor, appears promising in early phase clinical trials for the treatment of various cancers, as recently reported at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research. The ras gene is a part of a biological pathway that transmits growth signals from the ...

Paclitaxel has Significant Activity for the Treatment of Advanced Bladder Cancer 02/09/2002
Combination chemotherapy with platinum-containing compounds (cisplatin or carboplatin) is moderately effective for the treatment of advanced or metastatic bladder cancer and considered a standard component of therapy. New drugs or treatment strategies are currently needed to improve the effectiveness of initial therapy for patients with advanced bladder cancer. Paclitaxel ...

A Regimen of Methotrexate, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin and Cisplatin (M-VAC) is Superior to Cisplatin Alone for the Treatment of Metastatic Bladder Cancer 02/09/2002
The chemotherapy regimen of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (M-VAC) has become a standard treatment for patients with metastatic bladder cancer. This regimen was developed by physicians at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. The results of the treatment regimen were initially published in 1985. In order to confirm the ...

Gemzar® Is an Effective Drug for the Treatment of Advanced Bladder Cancer 02/09/2002
Standard treatment of advanced bladder cancer may incorporate surgery, radiation, and/or combination chemotherapy. Current combination chemotherapy regimens utilize 2 or more anti-cancer agents typically combined with either cisplatin or carboplatin Unfortunately, the majority of patients with advanced bladder cancer are not cured with current treatment regimens. In an ongoing ...

Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, an Active Drug Combination for Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Bladder Cancer 02/09/2002
The optimal chemotherapy regimen for patients with metastatic bladder cancer is unknown. Cisplatin and carboplatin are two of the most active anti-cancer therapies and are considered to be an essential component of all drug combinations utilized for the treatment of metastatic bladder cancer. New chemotherapy drugs continue to ...

Gemzar® is an Active Drug for the Treatment of Advanced Bladder Cancer 02/09/2002
The standard therapy for many patients with advanced bladder cancer is combination chemotherapy utilizing methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (M-VAC). This treatment regimen has been standard for many years and improves the average survival of patients with advanced bladder cancer by approximately 4 months compared to treatment with ...

High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Support, a Promising Treatment for Bladder Cancer? 02/09/2002
Chemotherapy treatment regimens containing cisplatin are currently the most effective for treatment of advanced bladder cancer. One treatment regimen consists of the chemotherapy agents methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin and cisplatin (MVAC). The doses of these drugs that can be administered to patients is limited mainly by damage to the ...

Paclitaxel Plus Cisplatin Is an Active Treatment against Advanced Cancer of the Bladder 02/07/2002
Cancer of the bladder may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Researchers now say that the drug, paclitaxel, may be a beneficial addition to the chemotherapy combination that is most commonly used to treat persons with advanced bladder cancer. Cancer of the bladder is characterized by the ...

Ifosfamide, Paclitaxel, and Cisplatin Combo Improves Survival Time for Persons with Advanced Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Cancer of the bladder may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Researchers in New York now say that the chemotherapy combination of ifosfamide, paclitaxel, and cisplatin may produce improved response rates and survival times over those achieved thus far with the standard chemotherapies commonly used to ...

Gemzar® Cisplatin : A New Standard Treatment for Transitional Cell Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
A combination of Gemzar®/cisplatin appears to be as effective against transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium as the previous standard treatment with methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MVAC), but with fewer side effects, according to a report presented by an international group of researchers at the ...

Gemzar®, Paclitaxel, and Cisplatin: An Effective Treatment Option for Patients with Advanced Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Results of a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology show that a new chemotherapy combination consisting of paclitaxel, cisplatin and Gemzar® is an effective treatment option with tolerable side effects for patients with advanced bladder cancer. The bladder is a ...

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Improves Outcomes for Patients with Stage II-III Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Radical cystectomy (surgical removal of the bladder) is the standard treatment for patients with stage II-III bladder cancer (cancer involving the muscle of the bladder wall). There is increasing use of combined modality treatment of invasive stage II-III bladder cancer in attempts to spare removal of the bladder in ...

Radiation Therapy before Cystectomy Does Not Contribute To Improved Survival in Patients with Advanced Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Radical cystectomy (complete removal of the bladder) is a standard treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer (stage II-III). Unfortunately, despite surgical removal of the cancer, many patients experience cancer recurrence locally or in distant sites. Some doctors have advocated the use of radiation therapy before radical cystectomy as ...

Combination Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy: A Promising Treatment Option for Patients with Bladder Cancer Unable to Undergo Surgery 02/07/2002
Radical cystectomy (complete surgical removal of the bladder) is the standard therapy for patients with stage II-III bladder cancer. Many patients with locally advanced bladder cancer are elderly or not fit for surgical removal of the bladder with creation of an artificial bladder. Physicians at the Albert Einstein College ...

Long-Term Follow-Up Suggests Chemotherapy Treatment Allows Bladder Function in Patients with Invasive Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Radical cystectomy (complete removal of the bladder) has generally been considered to be the standard treatment for patients with invasive stage II-III bladder cancer. An alternative approach is to treat with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in an attempt to avoid removal of the bladder in as many patients ...

Planned Preoperative Radiation Therapy in Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer is Not of Proven Benefit 02/07/2002
Radical cystectomy (complete removal of the bladder) is a standard treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer (stage II-III). Unfortunately despite surgical removal of the cancer, many patients experience cancer recurrence locally or in distant sites. Some doctors have advocated the use of radiation therapy before radical cystectomy as ...

Radical Cystectomy is Effective Therapy for Selected Patients Age 70 Years or Older with Invasive Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Younger patients with stage II-III invasive bladder cancer can often effectively be treated with radical cystectomy (complete surgical removal of the bladder) and urinary diversion. There is, however, a reluctance to subject older patients to radical cystectomy for fear of a higher rate of complications. In order to evaluate ...

Determination of P53 in Patients with Invasive Bladder Cancer Helps Select Patients for Bladder-Sparing Treatment 02/07/2002
There is controversy over the best way to manage patients with invasive bladder cancer (stage II-III). Radical cystectomy (complete removal of the bladder) has generally been considered to be the standard treatment for patients with invasive stage II-III bladder cancer. Clinical studies suggest that chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy ...

Bladder Reconstruction after Surgery for Bladder Cancer Reported Successful 02/07/2002
A radical cystectomy, a surgery that involves removal of the bladder, is a common treatment for cancer of the bladder. Persons who undergo a radical cystectomy must also undergo a procedure to design a new way for the body to store and pass urine. Recently, researchers from Maryland ...

Locally Advanced Small-Cell Bladder Cancer Responds to Aggressive Chemo/Radiation Combo 02/07/2002
Small-cell cancer of the urinary bladder is a rare cancer for which more effective treatments are being developed. Because this cancer behaves similarly to small-cell cancer of the lung, researchers have been studying the effects that treatments for lung cancer might have if used against small-cell bladder cancer. ...

Gemzar® Added to Paclitaxel and Cisplatin Chemotherapy is a Promising New Combination Treatment for Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Patients with advanced inoperable or metastatic bladder cancer are currently treated with chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy. Paclitaxel and cisplatin are active single chemotherapy agents often used in the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. Chemotherapy can produce remissions in patients with advanced bladder ...

Construction of Bladder Pouch after Surgery for Bladder Cancer Produces Favorable Outcomes 02/07/2002
A radical cystectomy, a surgery that involves removal of the bladder, is a common treatment for cancer of the bladder. Persons who undergo a radical cystectomy must also undergo a procedure to design a new way for the body to store and pass urine. Recently, researchers from Germany ...

Long-Term Survivors Report Good Quality of Life after Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
A radical cystectomy, a surgery that involves removal of the bladder, is a common treatment for cancer of the bladder. Persons who have a radical cystectomy also undergo a procedure to design a new way for the body to store and pass urine. Recently, researchers in California said ...

Neoadjuvant Therapy Does Not Significantly Improve Treatment of Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Radical cystectomy or radiation therapy is standard treatment for patients with bladder cancer invading the muscle layer of the bladder wall. Chemotherapy is frequently administered after surgery to prevent local and distant recurrences of bladder cancer. The administration of chemotherapy before surgery is called neoadjuvant. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has ...

Multi-Drug Chemo and Radiation Combo May Prolong Survival Time for Persons with Small-Cell Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Small-cell cancer of the urinary bladder is a rare cancer that is thought to behave much like small-cell cancer of the lung. For this reason, researchers have been studying the effects that treatments for lung cancer might have if used against small-cell bladder cancer. Recently, researchers in British ...

Preserving Bladder Function, Increasingly an Option in the Treatment of Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
A radical cystectomy (complete removal of the bladder) is currently the standard treatment for patients with bladder cancer that has invaded the muscular layer of the bladder. However, long-term follow-up results from a clinical trial recently published in the Journal of Oncology indicate that through careful monitoring, select ...

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Improves Survival for Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Chemotherapy prior to surgery (neoadjuvant) may improve survival for patients with bladder cancer, according to results presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen. Its primary function is to store urine, the waste that ...

Long-Term Survival with Aggressive Surgery in Advanced Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Physicians from Switzerland advocate the removal of pelvic lymph nodes in patients undergoing an attempted curative cystectomy (removal of the bladder) to improve long-term survival, according to a recent article reported in the Journal of Urology. The bladder is a muscular organ located in the lower abdomen that serves ...

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Immunotherapy Prevents Cancer Progression and Death in Patients with Superficial Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Unfortunately, surgical removal of bladder cancer does not prevent progression of the cancer to a more invasive form in the majority of patients when superficial bladder cancers may progress to invade the bladder muscle. Surgical resection through the urethra (transurethral resection or TUR) is the standard treatment for ...

Patients with Superficial Bladder Cancer Remain at Risk of Developing Recurrent Cancer and Require Continual Evaluation 02/07/2002
Cancer involving the internal lining of the bladder and not invading the deeper muscles in the bladder is referred to as superficial bladder cancer. The standard treatment of superficial bladder cancer utilizes aggressive local therapy including transurethral resection (TUR) of the cancer combined with bladder instillation of Bacillus ...

A Large Study Helps Define Outcomes for Patients with Superficial Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
There is controversy about the outcomes of patients with superficial bladder cancer with or without adjuvant therapy after transurethral resection (TUR). One of the main issues is whether or not adjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy prevents progression to aggressive life-threatening cancer or just prevents relatively benign recurrences of superficial ...

Photodynamic Therapy, a Promising Treatment for Superficial Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
Patients with superficial bladder cancer are routinely treated with surgical removal of the cancer and adjuvant therapy to decrease the risk of recurrent cancer or progression to more invasive disease. Despite standard treatment, the majority of patients with superficial bladder cancer experience recurrence of their cancer. A number ...

Alfa Interferon Treatment for Patients with Superficial Bladder Cancer 02/07/2002
The standard treatment for patients with superficial bladder cancer is instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy into the bladder for a prolonged period of time. This therapy decreases the risk of recurrent superficial bladder cancer and may prevent progression to more malignant invasive cancers. Chemotherapy instillation into the ...

Enhanced Delivery of Mitomycin C Improves Results of Treatment for Superficial Bladder Cancer 02/05/2002
Techniques such as restricting fluid intake, administering sodium bicarbonate and emptying the bladder more frequently with catheterization can increase drug exposure in the bladder, thereby improving conventional treatment for superficial bladder cancer, according to the results of a study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute ...

Second-Opinion Pathology Discrepancies High for Bladder Cancer 02/05/2002
Pathological diagnosis dictates treatment options for patients with bladder cancer. Pathological diagnosis is the cellular specificity of a biopsy specimen including the cell type, growth rate, aggressiveness and other biological characteristics of the cancer. Thus, correct initial diagnosis is imperative in order to correctly determine optimal treatment regimens ...

BLCA-4 Urine Test May Allow Earlier Detection of Bladder Cancer 02/05/2002
Recent results from a new clinical study published in the Journal of Urology have shown that a new simple urine test may be effective in the detection of bladder cancer. Cancer of the bladder is characterized by the presence of cancer cells in the bladder, the organ that is ...

Hair Dye Linked to Bladder Cancer 02/05/2002
Individuals who are consistently exposed to permanent hair dye may be at an increased risk for developing bladder cancer, according to a study recently published in the International Journal of Cancer. The study was the first to examine the link between exposure to hair dye and the development of ...

Arsenic in Drinking Water Associated with Bladder Cancer 02/05/2002
Levels of arsenic that are classified as acceptable have actually been linked to bladder cancer and could potentially double the risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The wall of the bladder is lined with several ...

Biomarkers for Bladder Cancer 02/05/2002
Biomarkers present in cells shed into urine may be useful tools for predicting and detecting bladder cancer, according to the results of a study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Bladder cancer is a common cancer worldwide, with approximately 260,000 new cases and 115,000 deaths ...

Female Smokers Have Higher Risk of Bladder Cancer Than Male Smokers 02/05/2002
Among men and women who smoke a comparable number of cigarettes daily, the female smokers have a significantly higher risk of bladder cancer than the male smokers, according to the results of a study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Bladder cancer is a common ...

New Marker Will Improve Screening for Bladder Cancer 02/05/2002
The presence of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, is a highly sensitive and specific marker of bladder cancer, according to the results of a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Bladder cancer is a common cancer, with approximately 55,000 new cases diagnosed in ...