The more research - the "bladder!"

My Fingers and toes are crossed for this more personalized approach to a challenging cancer! 👇

This week’s the V Foundation funded research highlight is a study and clinical trial which investigates a new approach to treating a type of bladder cancer called muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The standard treatment for MIBC is a surgery called radical cystectomy, where the bladder is removed. However, this surgery is a big and life-changing operation because it requires the creation of a new way for the body to pass urine. It also has some risks, with a small but significant chance of not surviving past 90 days after the surgery.

the V Foundation grantee Dr. Matthew Galsky and team at MOUNT SINAI SCHOOL OF MEDICINE hope to improve outcomes for people with MIBC by using a combination of chemotherapy and a type of immunotherapy called PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade before even considering surgery. This combination has shown promise in shrinking tumors before surgery and might even eliminate the cancer completely in some patients, allowing these patients to avoid surgery. However, it's challenging to determine if this approach is effective and safe for all patients, and that determination of which patient and when is what Dr. Galsky and team are trying to find out.

Their primary goal is to figure out whether a thorough evaluation of patients, along with specific criteria for assessing their response to treatment, can help identify patients who can safely avoid immediate surgery. By identifying these patients, they can help clinicians tailor treatment to each patient's needs, sparing some from the challenges of radical cystectomy and improving outcomes.

Why is this study incredibly cool? In short, (1) it’s testing a new way to treat a specific type of bladder cancer by using a combination of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade, along with detailed patient assessment, and (2) if this could be a significant addition to patient-centered care. The researchers are trying to find a balance between effectively treating cancer and preserving the patient's quality of life. I love this approach more than I can find the right words to succinctly say 😊.

Previous research with similar treatments for advanced bladder cancer has not always shown improved survival. This study is unique because it uses cisplatin, which may work better with immunotherapy.

Read more about the Galsky lab at https://profiles.mountsinai.org/matthew-galsky and find a link to the paper here https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02568-1