Current Research

Research for bladder cancer is ongoing. The following advances may still be under investigation in clinical trials and may not be approved or available at this time. Always discuss all diagnostic and treatment options with your doctor.

Laparoscopic cystectomy. In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes several small incisions, instead of the one larger incision used in traditional surgery. The surgeon uses telescoping equipment to remove the bladder. This surgery may take longer, but it is less painful afterward and patients recover more quickly. Several studies are in progress to determine whether laparoscopic cystectomy is as safe as the standard “open” surgical approach and whether the cure rates are the same.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT may be useful to treat early stages of bladder cancer. During photodynamic therapy, a patient receives an injection of a nontoxic chemical, which collects in the tumor for a few days. The doctor then focuses a special laser light on the cancer, which changes the collected chemical into a new chemical that can kill the tumor with very little harm to normal cells.

Molecular testing. Tests to identify changes to genes or proteins that could be a sign of bladder cancer may help predict a bladder cancer recurrence or predict which patients may need more aggressive treatment. DNA changes may also help predict prognosis for people with bladder cancer.

Targeted therapy. Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets faulty genes or proteins that contribute to cancer growth and development. New treatments based on what is known about genetics and how changes in genes cause cancer to develop are already available for some cancers. Research is underway to determine how this approach may be useful in treating bladder cancer.

New chemotherapy/combinations. As described in the Treatment section, researchers are investigating new drugs and new combinations of chemotherapy.