Long-Term Outcomes of Bladder-Sparing Therapy

In the U.S., curative-intent therapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients deemed fit for surgery has traditionally consisted of radical cystectomy, typically with continent diversions; radiotherapy is usually considered more appropriate for patients “unfit” for surgery. During the past 15 years, several studies have assessed bladder-preserving combined-modality therapy, consisting of maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor, radiotherapy, and concurrent chemotherapy, with cystoscopic assessment of response and prompt salvage cystectomy for nonresponders.

Now, investigators have conducted a pooled analysis of one phase III and five phase II studies to determine long-term outcomes of cisplatin-based bladder-preserving combined-m…