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Forward Looking NMIBC Treatment Advancements and Needs in 2024
In this final episode, panelists conclude with reflections on the significant progress made in treating NMIBC over the past decade, particularly in the last 5 years. Looking ahead to 2024, experts in urology express excitement about investigational treatments (ie, cretostimogene grenadenorepvec and UGN 102), the potential for personalized medicine, emphasizing the need to understand molecular characteristics of the disease for better treatment customization. The session also highlights the importance of balancing quality of life with effective treatment strategies, and the prospect of utilizing emerging therapies early in the disease process.
This is a synopsis of the Viewpoints video series featuring moderator, Sam S. Chang, MD, MBA, from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and panelists Gary Steinberg, MD, FACS, from Rush University Medical Center, Mark Tyson, MD, of Mayo Clinic Phoenix, Roger Li, MD, from Moffitt Cancer Center, and Sandip M. Prasad, MD, MPhil, of Morristown Medical Center.
Episode 12 concludes with reflections on the remarkable progress in treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) over the past decade, especially in the last five years. The experts look ahead to 2024 with enthusiasm about new treatments and the potential for personalized medicine. They emphasize the need to understand the molecular characteristics of NMIBC for improved treatment customization. This session also highlights the importance of balancing quality of life with effective treatment strategies and the prospect of utilizing emerging therapies early in the disease process. Dr. Gary Steinberg expresses excitement about creative stem and gene therapy, particularly cretostimogene grenadenorepvec combined with checkpoint inhibitors, considering their novel mechanism of action. He also mentions the FGFR3 inhibitors, highlighting their potential in personalized targeted therapy, despite some systemic side effects. Dr. Roger Lee focuses on the molecular understanding of NMIBC, stressing the value of analyzing tumor and urine samples to understand disease dynamics and develop personalized treatment approaches. The panel discusses the challenges in treating NMIBC, including the need for cystectomies and intensive intravascular treatments. They advocate for individualized care and emphasize understanding each patient's unique disease characteristics. Dr. Sandip M. Prasad speaks about the quality of life aspects and the financial burden of bladder cancer treatment. He suggests de-intensifying treatments for certain patient groups and considering non-surgical therapeutic approaches. The experts also discuss the exciting prospects of intravascular antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and the impressive response rates from studies like EV-302(of enfortumab vedotin). They highlight the importance of molecular characterization of tumors for selecting appropriate therapies, which they see as the next frontier in NMIBC treatment.
The session concludes with an acknowledgment of the significant evolution in NMIBC treatment options, comparing it to the advancements seen in prostate cancer treatment. The panelists express optimism about the future of bladder cancer care, underscoring the need to understand patient-specific risks better and utilize emerging therapies effectively.
*Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by Urology Times® editorial staff.
