Bladder Cancer COE

Advancing Microhematuria Evaluation: The Impact of Urinary Biomarkers and Updated Guidelines - Jay D. Raman & Yair Lotan

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In this discussion Zachary Klaassen is joined by Jay Raman and Yair Lotan to explore the latest updates in the evaluation of microhematuria. They discuss the unmet need in risk stratifying patients, the evolution of guidelines from 2020 to 2025, and the role of urinary biomarkers in optimizing patient care. Dr. Lotan highlights the shift to identifying a "low/negligible risk" group, reducing unnec...

Risk Stratification in Intermediate Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer - Katie Murray

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Zachary Klaassen and Katie Murray discuss the challenges in risk stratification of intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, highlighting differences between guideline approaches. Dr. Murray explains that AUA guidelines include both low-grade and high-grade tumors in the intermediate category, creating heterogeneity that affects clinical trial eligibility and treatment decisions. They...

Predicting BCG Therapy Response in High-Grade Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer - Weranja Ranasinghe

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Weranja Ranasinghe discusses research on developing an immunohistochemistry (IHC) profile to predict response to BCG in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In this pilot study analyzing matched BCG responders and non-responders, Dr. Ranasinghe and his team observed that the most meaningful distinctions were not in absolute immune marker levels, but in their ratios. Non-responders demonstra...

Managing BCG-Unresponsive Bladder Cancer: Balancing Bladder Preservation and Cystectomy - Paolo Gontero & Maria Carmen Mir

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Ashish Kamat moderates a discussion with Paolo Gontero and Maria Carmen Mir addressing management approaches for BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer. Dr. Gontero highlights the limited treatment options in Europe compared to the US, noting that after gemcitabine-docetaxel failure, European physicians face significant constraints without access to newer immunotherapies. Dr. Mir emphasizes that 96% of p...

Prehabilitation in Cancer Care: Personalized Exercise Programs for Better Outcomes - Sarah Psutka

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Zachary Klaassen interviews Sarah Psutka about prehabilitation in urologic oncology. Dr. Psutka discusses how exercise interventions before, during, and after cancer treatment can significantly improve patient outcomes, emphasizing that only about 7% of cancer patients currently meet recommended activity guidelines. She outlines her "Ps of prehab" approach—making exercise personalized, pragmatic,...

Gender Disparities in Bladder Cancer Care and Treatment Considerations for Women - Jean Hoffman-Censits & Armine Smith

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Leslie Ballas speaks with Jeannie Hoffman-Censits and Armine Smith about gender disparities in bladder cancer care. Drs. Smith and Hoffman-Censits highlight how women often face delayed diagnoses because their hematuria symptoms are frequently dismissed as UTIs, requiring multiple provider visits before reaching a urologist. They note that women are commonly diagnosed at later stages, limiting tre...

Risk Stratification for Active Surveillance in Low and Intermediate-Risk Bladder Cancer - Marco Moschini

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Ashish Kamat speaks with Marco Moschini about expanding active surveillance criteria for recurrent low-grade bladder cancer. Dr. Moschini presents his single-center retrospective study from San Raffaele Hospital analyzing outcomes among intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients based on IBCG risk stratification. These findings demonstrate that patients with zero risk factors ac...

Cretostimogene Grenadenorepvec Complete Response in BOND-003 Cohort C - Trinity Bivalacqua

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Zachary Klaassen speaks with Trinity Bivalacqua about updated results from the BOND-003 Cohort C phase III trial examining cretostimogene grenadenorepvec for high-risk BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with carcinoma in situ. Dr. Bivalacqua presents efficacy data showing a 75.5% overall complete response rate, with 46% maintaining complete response at 12 months and an estimated 6...

Evolving Treatment Landscape for Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Beyond BCG - Bogdana Schmidt

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Ashish Kamat hosts Bogdana Schmidt to discuss the evolving landscape of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treatment. Dr. Schmidt presents a comprehensive overview of risk stratification approaches, highlighting how BCG—despite being the cornerstone treatment for high-risk disease for over 50 years—has significant limitations including side effects, intense treatment schedules, and a 30-40% recurr...

LEGEND Trial: EG-70 in BCG-Refractory Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer - John Taylor

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Alicia Morgans discusses the LEGEND trial with John Taylor, focusing on detalimogene voraplasmid (EG-70) for BCG-refractory non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Dr. Taylor explains that EG-70 is a non-viral vector drug stimulating both innate and adaptive immune responses through the RIG-I pathway and interleukin 12 enhancement. The phase II trial has enrolled 21 patients in cohort 1 (BCG-refractor...