What Is New In Bladder Cancer Research

By Luisa Sharpe


Bladder cancer research today is looking at new ways to detect the disease earlier as well as more effective and less invasive ways to treat it once it has been discovered. There are many trials and studies being done that will contribute vital information to what is already known by researchers.

The trend for early detection is in urine analysis. There are three new tests for proteins in the urine that help to identify tumors especially in persons who have already been treated for this disease and may be suffering a relapse. The first, called BTA test, checks for a specific protein that signals the return of cancerous cells. There is a problem with false results because other conditions can affect the outcome.

Transitional cell cancers are the most common type of cancers detected by the NMP22 test. This test looks to the nucleus of proteins involved. Everyone has these proteins in their bodies but they are found in very small numbers. An elevated count of this protein serves as a red flag to doctors when they conduct this analysis.

The latest test that has been developed is the Mcm5 test. It is used with the NMP22 test and has proven to be successful in finding the TCC in the majority of cases where it was used. This is important because early detection raises the chance of survival for the patient.

Even with use of these tests, if they were commonly available, patients will still need to submit to an invasive procedure called the cystoscopy. This procedure entails a camera in the bladders of patients to find any tumors that may be present. Special chemicals are added to enhance the blood vessels that feed the tumors.

Treatment studies are also being conducted by many labs. One notable study is photodynamic therapy where your doctor puts the drug directly into bladders through using catheters and later fills them with saline solution. A special light is then directed at the lining of the organ and the light activates the drug. This process directly kills the cancerous cells, damages the blood vessels that feed the tumor and trigger your immune system to destroy the tumor.

The best treatment results are achieved when therapies are combined to fight the disease. Chemotherapy shrinks the tumors, radiotherapy serves to prevent reappearance of them and surgery removes the offending tissue. Another part of the combination is over oxygenation of the area that is affected because cancerous cells die easier when they have an excess of oxygen.

Other therapies being researched are hyperthermia and chemotherapy used together to help stop the return of tumors in patients. Medication is placed into the patient and heated with a micro-wave probe to enhance its effectiveness. Another approach that is gaining popularity is biological therapies. This process uses natural body substances to fight this disease. The drugs being made from body substances are being tested in multiple trials to determine the extent of their effectiveness on several different cancers. They have proven effective in several studies and appear to have a promising outcome in many others. The scientists are also constantly developing new drugs for this condition. The new drugs must be thoroughly tested and proven prior to being used for treatment on humans.




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