Dr. Plimack on Strategies for Developing Cure for Locally Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma

Elizabeth Plimack, MD, director of Genitourinary Clinical Research at Fox Chase Cancer Center, discusses strategies for developing cures for patients with locally advanced urothelial carcinoma.

Locally advanced bladder cancer has made its way into the muscle of the bladder but hasn’t extended beyond that, explains Plimack. It is a high-risk situation where, if left untreated, many patients would progress to metastatic disease. It also presents an opportunity for cure and many researchers are developing the best strategies to increase the cure rate for these patients.

Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy is proven to improve the cure rate and extend survival in this group, states Plimack. However, there is ongoing biomarker research that is looking to see which patients will benefit the most and can keep their bladder.