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05-02-2024 | Bladder Carcinoma

One Size Fits Some: Approaching Rare Malignancies of the Urinary Tract

Authors: Stephanie A Berg, DO, Bradley A McGregor, MD

Published in: Current Treatment Options in Oncology | Issue 2/2024

Opinion Statement

Urothelial carcinoma is the predominant cancer of the urinary tract but when divergent and subtype histology (non-urothelial) are identified at time of pathologic diagnosis, therapeutic and diagnostic challenges transpire. To this end, pathologic review to confirm any non-urothelial histology is key since these subtypes can often be overlooked. Few prospective trials are dedicated to understanding these non-urothelial histologic types; however, current, and past trials did allow patients with these non-urothelial histologic types to enroll, and inferences can be made about treatment efficacy and survival. Existing treatment regimens for non-urothelial bladder cancers are akin to standard urothelial cancer regimens using surgical approaches for localized disease and platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced disease. The reported clinical trials, that will be discussed, center on non-urothelial histologic types. These studies, albeit limited, provide critical insight into tumor biology and response to standard platinum-based chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and antibody drug conjugates. The inclusion of non-urothelial histologic types will be essential for clinical trials in development to provide further therapeutic advances and provide essential efficacy data.

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Title: One Size Fits Some: Approaching Rare Malignancies of the Urinary Tract
Authors: Stephanie A Berg, DO
Bradley A McGregor, MD
Publication date: 05-02-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Bladder Carcinoma
Genitourinary Cancer
Urothelial Cancer
Urothelial Cancer
Cytostatic Therapy
Published in: Current Treatment Options in Oncology / Issue 2/2024
Print ISSN: 1527-2729
Electronic ISSN: 1534-6277
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-024-01187-3

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