Bladder Cancer News Archives

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MARRIAGE TIED TO BETTER BLADDER CANCER SURVIVAL

Tuesday, October 25th, 2005

According to a study recently reported in the journal Cancer, the support of a spouse may help bladder cancer patients live longer lives.  The researchers used data from a national cancer registry to follow nearly 6000 Americans treated for bladder cancer between 1983 and 2000.  After more than 3 years of follow-up, the researchers found that those patients who were married had better survival rates than single patients, even when weighing factors such as age and cancer stage at diagnosis.

According to the study authors, led by Dr. John L. Gore of the University of California, Los Angeles, the reason for the marriage advantage is unknown, but several potential explanations were offered.  Spouses may be responsible for getting their partners to see the doctor when the first possible symptoms of cancer arise.  In addition, spouses may urge the patients to adopt more healthy lifestyles, including urging them to quit smoking, which is a major risk factor for bladder cancer. It is also possible that the support of a spouse affects a patient’s immune defenses.  The researchers noted that a study of breast cancer patients found that those who were either married or felt they had strong support from family and friends had greater activity in certain immune system cells that help destroy tumor cells.  For more information, please click here.

FLOURESCENT LIGHT REDUCES RECURRENCE OF BLADDER CANCER

Tuesday, October 25th, 2005

The Journal of Urology has reported on the results of a study showing that the use of fluorescent light during a cystoscopy to detect and remove cancerous cells reduces the rate of recurrence of the cancer. During a standard cystoscopy procedure, the surgeon uses a white light to examine the bladder, and then removes any areas of tissue which appear suspicious for cancer. This type of surgery is called resection. The new procedure, called ALA for short, involves the instillation of a photosensitizing agent in the bladder, which is absorbed by cancerous cells, and during the subsequent cystoscopy light of a specific wavelength is used which causes the cancerous cells to fluoresce. The surgeon can then more easily spot the suspicious areas and remove them.

The results at 2, 12, 26 and 60 months following this procedure show a considerably longer time to recurrence for those patients who received the ALA-guided resection. The group subjected to the standard method showed recurrence rates of 41%, 61%, 73% and 75% respectively, while the group receiving the ALA method had recurrence rates of 16%, 43%, 59% and 59%. The study authors recommend that anyone undergoing cystoscopy for suspected bladder cancer ask their physician about the possibility of using the ALA  procedure, due to its dramatically-improved results and cost effectiveness. The full content of the article on this procedure can be found by clicking here.

Promising results were also reported in the September, 2005 issue of the Journal of Urology concerning a study conducted by Dutch and German researchers of Hexaminolevulinate (HAL) fluorescent cystoscopy. In the study sample, the percentage of malignant bladder tumors detected by the HAL imaging technique was 96%, while the conventional white light cystoscopy detected 77%. The new procedure was found to have an excellent safety profile and led to treatment of 17-22% more patients than the white-light method. This new imaging technique appears promising for some bladder tumors, CIS and dysplasia which might otherwise be missed. The full text of the article can be read by clicking here.

NEW BLADDER CANCER TEST LOOKS PROMISING

Tuesday, October 25th, 2005

Italian researchers have developed a urine test that detected 90% of cases of bladder cancer in 134 men tested, according to a report published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The test was also performed on 84 men without bladder cancer, and ruled out the disease in these men with similar accuracy. The test measures the level of the enzyme telomerase in a urine sample. This enzyme is present in almost all cancer cells, and is rarely seen in normal cells. The test can detect low-grade cancers, as well as cancers which are at an early stage, which makes it a potentially-effective tool for screening high-risk patients for bladder cancer. The telomerase test is believed to be more accurate than either the cytology or nuclear matrix protein tests, but takes 2-3 days to get results. For further details, please click here

MARKERS IN BLADDER CANCER–AN EVOLVING SCIENCE

Saturday, October 15th, 2005

Bladder cancer is usually signaled initially by symptoms that the patient is experiencing, such as blood in the urine or urinary discomfort. Depending on the symptoms presented, the doctor may test a urine sample for bacterial infection or conduct an internal examination of the bladder using a cystoscope inserted through the urinary tract. If bladder cancer is a possibility, the doctor may order a biomarker test for bladder cancer using a sample of voided urine. Cytology has been the traditional test for several decades, but other test methods have recently become available, including FISH (Flouresence In Situ Hybridization), and Bladder Chek NMP-22(Nuclear Matrix Protein-22).

In a recent interview, Dr. Michael A. O’Donnell, professor and Director of Urologic Oncology at the University of Iowa (and a member of BCAN’s Scientific Advisory Board) discussed developments in marker tests and how they compare with cystoscopy and cytology in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.  Dr. O’Donnell explained that while urologists would like to have a test for bladder cancer “that’s at least the equivalent of PSA for prostate cancer,” he does not think any of the new tests yet achieve that result.  According to Dr. O’Donnell, each test has its limitations.  He stated:  “The important message is:  Don’t treat on the basis of any of these newer tests alone.  Use them to raise your level of suspicion about looking for something.”  Dr. O’Donnell further stated, “[W]e’re at the first stage of markers, and there will likely be improvements in development, including a panel of markers that perhaps some day could be made cost effective.  Right now, they have limitations; they clearly are more sensitive than cytology, but less specific.  You just have to understand the marker and what you can do with it.”   The complete interview may be read by clicking here.

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