MedifocusHealth

Extensive research is ongoing worldwide to develop novel, potentially more effective for both superficial as well as muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Some of these research areas include:

• Developing improved methods to prevent the recurrent growth of bladder cancer following transurethral resection (TUR) for superficial bladder cancer. In this regard, several novel immunotherapeutic strategies are being investigated including:

  • interleukin-12 DNA vaccine immunotherapy
  • recombinant BCG - DNA vaccine immunotherapy given in combination with interleukin-12 DNA vaccine

• Developing additional intravesical chemotherapeutic drugs for the treatment of BCG-refractory superficial bladder cancer. Two promising drugs currently being evaluated include:

  • gemcitabine intravesical therapy
  • docetaxel intravesical therapy

• Developing novel methods to prolong the exposure of chemotherapeutic intravesical agents to increase their effectiveness against superficial bladder cancer. Examples include:

  • development of magnetically-targeted microparticle carriers composed of metallic iron and activated carbon to target intravesical chemotherapeutic drugs to the site of the bladder tumor.

  • development of bioadhesive microspheres to prolong the release and enhance the adhesion of intravesical chemotherapeutic agents at the site of the bladder tumor.

• Development of novel methods to increase the susceptibility of bladder cancer cells to intravesical chemotherapeutic drugs is being investigated.

  • one promising approach currently being investigated involves combination treatment with gemcitabine and clusterin antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN).

  • an alternative method being investigated to enhance the susceptibility of bladder tumors to intravesical chemotherapy is a technique called photodynamic therapy. This involves first exposing the bladder tumor to a photosensitizing agent followed by exposure to red laser light.

• Researchers are investigating novel methods to try to prevent the spread of bladder cancer (metastatic bladder cancer). It has long been recognized that one major requirement for metastatic spread of a solid tumor is formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) to nourish the tumor and enable it to spread. Current research is focusing on developing agents known as angiogenesis inhibitors to block the formation of new blood vessels to a tumor and, thereby, prevent metastasis. Examples of angiogenesis inhibitors that are currently being investigated to prevent the spread of bladder cancer cells include:

  • endostatin
  • TNP-470
  • NF-kB

• Information regarding ongoing clinical trials in your area can be obtained at the Clinical Trials Listing Service: http://www.centerwatch.com