Current topics and perspectives in bladder cancer research

摘要

In Western countries, bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignant tumor in men and the eighth most common in women. Worldwide, there are more than 170 000 deaths from this disease annually. Based on its occurrence and progression in patients, bladder cancer can be classified into two categories; superficial or muscle-invasive tumors. Superficial tumors usually show papillary configuration and in most cases are successfully treated with transurethral resection. However, more than 50% of patients experience intravesical recurrence within 2 years, and 5% to 25% progress to muscle-invasive tumors. Patients with muscle-invasive tumors are generally treated by radical cystectomy with/without chemotherapy in either a neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of these patients develop metastatic diseases despite aggressive treatment. The prognosis is then extremely poor.