(BPT) - Julio, a 49-year-old engineer and avid runner, discovered an alarming sign of trouble right after completing a half-marathon: blood in his urine. He promptly consulted a doctor, which led to a bladder cancer diagnosis. Specifically, Julio had low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC), a type known for its tendency to recur.

Although his diagnosis in March 2020 was complicated by the pandemic, Julio was still able to get started on treatment right away, which involved a surgery called transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to remove a tumor of around three centimeters from his bladder, followed by a round of chemotherapy to try and prevent further tumors from developing.

"People with LG-IR-NMIBC usually undergo repeated surgical procedures called TURBTs, due to the highly recurrent nature of the disease. This can have a significant impact on a patient's physical health and quality of life," explained Sandip Prasad, M.D., MPhil, Director of Genitourinary Surgical Oncology, Morristown Medical Center/Atlantic Health System, New Jersey. "These patients need more options to help them better manage their disease.'

"Surgery was difficult for me," said Julio. "It took me a long time to recover. It was very painful. It took two to three weeks to start walking and moving like my normal self, then two to three months to start running again."

Within a year of having surgery, Julio faced the recurrence of small tumors, a common issue with LG-IR-NMIBC. Up to 50% of LG-IR-NMIBC cases recur within one year.^[1]

What is bladder cancer?

Bladder cancer can develop when cells in the urinary lining begin growing out of control, and as more cancer cells develop, they can form a tumor that might spread to other parts of the body over time.^[2] Bladder cancer can be categorized as either low-grade, which grows slower but has a tendency to recur, or high-grade, which tends to spread more aggressively.^[3] About 730,000 people in the U.S. live with bladder cancer, with an estimated 83,190 new cases expected in 2024.^[4]

Although bladder cancer is the second most common urologic cancer among men in the U.S., with men around three times more likely than women to be diagnosed with bladder cancer, the treatments have remained the same for decades.^[2],[5]

The burden of recurring tumors

While Julio understood that his LG-IR-NMIBC diagnosis meant he had a lower risk of losing his bladder, he also learned that it meant potentially facing recurring tumors and undergoing multiple surgeries. This prospect weighed heavily on him, knowing the surgeries would increasingly disrupt his life and bring more pain. Statistics show that nearly 70% of recurrent patients undergo two or more TURBT surgeries.^[1],[6]

Having to face surgery again and again to remove recurring tumors was not something Julio looked forward to. With a wife, three kids, and a career to manage, Julio needs to stay on top of his game. "Life is hectic, and I want to avoid anything that slows me down and keeps me from doing the things that bring me joy,' said Julio.

Investigational approaches in development

Fortunately, Julio's doctor informed him that there were chemoablative, investigational treatment approaches in development for patients like him, so he enrolled in a clinical trial.

"Offering patients more options is always beneficial," said Prasad, "and the potential for alternative bladder cancer therapies may provide significant advantages, particularly in cases with frequent recurrence."

Looking ahead

Today, Julio is physically active and still enjoys running.

"I think it's important to know that this cancer can happen to anyone, just as it happened to me," Julio said. "If it happens to you, it's important to get educated and ask your doctors about all your treatment options, including any investigational treatments in clinical development."

To learn more about LG-IR-NMIBC, visit UroGen.com.

^[1] Babjuk M, Burger M, Comperat EM, et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (TaT1 and Carcinoma In Situ) - 2019 Update. Eur Urol. 2019 Nov;76(5):639-657.

^[2] About Bladder Cancer. American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/bladder-cancer/about/what-is-bladder-cancer.html. Accessed June 19, 2024.

^[3] Bladder Cancer Stages. American Cancer Society. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://www.cancer.gov/types/bladder/stages. Accessed June 19, 2024.

^[4] SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Bladder Cancer. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/urinb.html. Accessed June 19, 2024.

^[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Male Urologic Cancers. USCS Data Brief, no 21. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2020.

^[6] Simon M, Bosset PO, Rouanne M, et al. Multiple recurrences and risk of disease progression in patients with primary low-grade (TaG1) non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and with low and intermediate EORTC-risk score. PLoS One. 2019 Feb 27;14(2):e0211721.

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