Bladder Cancer: Highlights from 2006

ObjectivesThis paper provides an overview of the most relevant findings on bladder cancer (BCa) presented at the 2006 annual meetings of the European Association of Urology, American Urological Association, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.MethodsExperts in the field of BCa selected and discussed relevant new findings in BCa during a closed meeting in Marbella, Spain. Furthermore, the participants’ opinions on representative clinical cases were assessed via interactive voting. Voting results were commented on by an expert panel.ResultsMany studies examined the diagnostic and prognostic value of the biomarkers survivin and nuclear matrix protein-22, but results were not consistent. With respect to superficial BCa, a major revelation was the introduction of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer tables to calculate the risk for recurrence and progression of superficial BCa patients. In addition, one study showed that Bacillus Calmette-Guérin + interferon-alpha might be a good alternative treatment for patients with recurrent superficial BCa. For patients with minimally invasive BCa who had undergone radical transurethral resection, a bladder-sparing treatment was cautiously suggested. For those with recurrent urothelial cancer, one study presented a new salvage chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and nedaplatin. Finally, two studies demonstrated that there was no difference in oncologic outcome between patients who underwent open or laparoscopic radical cystectomy or nephroureterectomy.ConclusionsMany interesting new findings in the field of BCa have been presented at 2006 urologic/oncologic meetings, which aim to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with BCa.