Combination radiation and chemotherapy

Organ preserving approaches in the management of advanced tumors have combined less aggressive surgical procedures with radiation and chemotherapy. In the past, radiation alone has been shown to effectively shrink bladder tumors. Yet recent studies have indicated a better response with a combined approach in the treatment of muscle invasive bladder cancer using local resection of the tumor, radiation and chemotherapy.

Radiation and chemotherapy used together as a bladder-preserving technique are proving to be much more effective than either radiation or chemotherapy alone although some tumors respond more favorably than others. Factors that can influence the success of bladder preserving therapies are the completeness of the transurethral resection of the tumor, the tumor location, and the tumor stage.

Although cystectomy remains the standard therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer, new advances in conformal radiation therapy and more active chemotherapeutic agents which are available at the Johns Hopkins Comprehensive Cancer Center will continue to make the option of bladder -preserving therapy available