The future of bladder oncology

Bladder cancer occurs when abnormal cells (forming a tumour) grow in the lining of the bladder and, in some cases, spread into the bladder muscle.¹ The most common type is non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), in which the cancerous cells are contained inside the lining of the bladder.

Although it can occur in anyone of any age, risk factors for developing bladder cancer include: smoking tobacco, exposure to chemicals and chronic irritation of the lining of the bladder.² The most frequently experienced symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which is usually painless.

Bladder cancer is common around the world

Bladder cancer is the tenth most prevalent cancer worldwide with 550,000 new cases diagnosed in 2018.³ It is more common in men than women, with the incidence in men approximately four times higher.⁴

Treatment and outlook can depend on stage of condition

NMIBC can be treated by removing the cancerous cells surgically, followed by a series of chemotherapy. Radiotherapy can be an alternative treatment option, if applicable. Where there is a high chance of the condition recurring, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) may be instilled into the bladder to reduce this risk.

Treatment for high-grade NMIBC or muscle-invasive bladder cancer may involve surgically removing the bladder, known as a cystectomy. For patients with high-grade NMIBC who are unresponsive to BCG therapy, there is currently a high unmet medical need, as removal of the bladder can have a significant impact on quality of life.

You can read more about Ferring’s pipeline in bladder cancer here.

References

1. NHS. Bladder Cancer. Available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bladder-cancer/ Last accessed October 2019
2. Mayo Clinic. Bladder Cancer. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bladder-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20356104 Last accessed October 2019.
3. World Cancer Research Fund. American Institute for Cancer Research. Bladder cancer statistics. Available at https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/cancer-trends/bladder-cancer-statistics Last accessed October 2019.
4. Bray F., et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. Ca Cancer J Clin 2018;68:394–424