Bladder Cancer

Sara Coca Membribes, MD, highlights several emerging therapeutic strategies with near-term clinical implications.

At EAU 2026, Adam B. Weiner, MD, spoke with Nikita Bhatt, MD, about the growing interest in prehabilitation to optimize patients ahead of cystectomy.

The NCCN has recognized NAI plus BCG as an option for BCG-unresponsive papillary NMIBC as FDA review continues.

A subgroup analysis of the POTOMAC trial showed that durvalumab plus BCG I+M had consistent safety and efficacy in older patients with BCG-naïve high-risk NMIBC.

On actionable guidance for community practitioners, Kamat's most emphatic recommendation is early pathology review.

Antoni Vilaseca Cabo, MD, characterizes these results as proof of concept for the local delivery approach, with phase 2 and 3 trials now underway.

Guerrero-Ramos argues that landmark survival data from recent trials justify perioperative immunotherapy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer, while acknowledging that validated tools for individual patient selection remain elusive and that urologists must engage closely with medical oncology to deliver optimal care.

Final results from a phase 1 study of Erda-iDRS provide proof-of-concept for sustained local delivery of erdafitinib into the bladder.

On diagnostic pitfalls, Necchi highlights penile cancer as a particularly common source of delay.

On counseling patients who want to avoid cystectomy, Bogdana Schmidt, MD, MPH, points to trimodality therapy as the established bladder-preserving option, supported by longer-term data and propensity-matched analyses showing outcomes comparable to cystectomy in selected patients.

According to Sophia Kamran, MD, innovation in bladder cancer is expanding treatment options and patient-centered care.

ImmunityBio has resubmitted an sBLA for the combination following an FDA request for updated efficacy data.

“Once we actually get a J code for a medication, it really solidifies the amount of reimbursement that's going to occur,” says Jonathan Rubenstein, MD.

NDV-01, a sustained-release intravesical combo, delivered durable 12‑month complete responses in high-risk NMIBC, particularly among patients with BCG-unresponsive disease.

Rubenstein emphasizes the importance of strong clinical documentation and preparation by billing teams.

Laura Bukavina, MD, MPH, MSc, sat down to discuss the emerging role of ctDNA in guiding treatment decisions for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, drawing on findings from the RETAIN and RETAIN 2 trials.

ImmunityBio plans to submit a biologics license application to the FDA by Q4 of 2026.

Sophia C. Kamran, MD, highlights some of the key bladder cancer trials presented at ASCO GU 2026 from the perspective of a radiation oncologist.

A recap of the FDA submissions and regulatory decisions in urology from February 2026.

"The CR rates in both arms are compelling, being higher than 50% with both strategies…BI-EFS rates in participants at week 18 CR assessment were comparable between arms and were higher than 80% in both arms," said Andrea Necchi, MD.

A permanent J code helps standardize billing and clarifies expected payment levels, often embedding reimbursement terms into payer contracts.

Matthew D. Galsky, MD, discusses what is needed for successful integration of BCG/ICI combinations in BCG-naive non–muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Kristen R. Scarpato, MD, MPH, discusses the potential role of emerging immunotherapy-based combinations in the treatment of BCG-naive, high-risk non–muscle invasive bladder cancer.

As immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates move earlier in treatment, questions about sequencing therapies are emerging.

"Tokyo BCG is noninferior to TICE. This means that the BCG shortage could be mitigated with the Tokyo strain," said Robert Svatek, MD, MSCI.