Researchers have found a new way to figure out which bladder cancer patients are at risk of their cancer coming back after surgery.
This method involves testing for tumor DNA in the patient’s blood. If the test is negative, it means the patient is less likely to face cancer again.
This discovery is significant because it could help doctors decide who really needs more treatment after surgery and who doesn’t, making cancer care more personalized and less burdensome for patients.
The research was shared at a big meeting for urology experts in Paris. It was part of a study called IMvigor011.
The study looked at a particular type of bladder cancer that has spread into the bladder wall, known as muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).
This is a serious condition that often requires removing the bladder through surgery. Unfortunately, even after this drastic step, there’s a high chance the cancer could return, especially in places like the lungs, usually within two to three years.
Traditionally, to try and stop the cancer from coming back, doctors offer more treatments like chemotherapy or immunotherapy after surgery. These treatments can be tough on patients, causing serious and life-changing side effects.
But the new research suggests that by using this blood test to check for tumor DNA, doctors might be able to identify patients who have a low risk of cancer returning. These patients might not need the extra treatment, sparing them from these harsh side effects.
The study found that over 90% of patients who had a negative test for tumor DNA in their blood after surgery, and whose test remained negative, did not see their cancer come back.
This is a big deal because it means this simple blood test could help avoid unnecessary treatment for many patients.
At the same conference, another study called CheckMate 274 was discussed. It showed that patients who received a type of immunotherapy called nivolumab after surgery lived longer than those who didn’t get the drug.
Specifically, patients treated with nivolumab lived nearly six years on average, while those who received a placebo lived about four years. This shows the potential of nivolumab to improve survival rates for bladder cancer patients.
The CheckMate 274 trial also focused on MIBC patients and reported positive outcomes for preventing the cancer from returning, especially in patients with a specific biomarker targeted by nivolumab.
These findings are encouraging for both doctors and patients. They offer hope for more effective treatment options that can be tailored to the needs of individual patients.
For patients, this means the possibility of avoiding unnecessary treatments and their side effects if their risk of cancer returning is low. For the healthcare system, it’s a step towards more efficient and targeted use of resources.
In summary, these studies present a brighter future for bladder cancer treatment, where decisions can be made with greater precision, improving the lives of patients and making the best use of treatments available.
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