Bladder Cancer

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.

“When we looked at ctDNA dynamics, patients who had baseline and postneoadjuvant ctDNA negativity had the best outcomes," said Pooja Ghatalia, MD.

“Neoadjuvant and adjuvant EV/pembro significantly improved event-free survival, overall survival, and path CR rate vs neoadjuvant gem/cis in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radical cystectomy," said Matthew D. Galsky, MD.

Pooja Ghatalia, MD, shares data from an integrated analysis of the RETAIN trials in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Robert S. Svatek, MD, MSCI, highlights some of the greatest unmet needs in the non–muscle invasive bladder cancer space.

Leslie K. Ballas, MD, discusses the background and design for the phase 2 BRIGHT trial, evaluating a risk-adapted bladder preservation strategy in MIBC.

AKY-1189 is currently under investigation in the phase 1b NECTINIUM-2 trial.

Bourlon outlines what to watch for in prostate, urothelial, kidney, and testicular cancer.

Data showed that measurement of ctDNA and utDNA could identify patients who are most likely to remain cancer-free following systemic therapy.

The combination of enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab extended event-free and overall survival in patients with MIBC who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy.