ORGAN SPARING TREATMENT OF BLADDER-CANCER - AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH

Muscle-invasive carcinoma of the urinary bladder is a highly malignant disease with a rapid doubling time and a propensity for distant metas tasis. Although radical cystectomy has been the treatment of choice in the United States, limited tumor resection followed by chemotherapy a nd radiation therapy, with preservation of a normally functioning blad der, is an alternative approach of significant usefulness. In carefull y selected patients, such treatment offers a good chance of long-term cure and survival equal to that associated with cystectomy. This combi ned-modality approach remains investigational and requires a multidisc iplinary team including a urologic surgeon, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist.