A Look At Bladder Cancer Research

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By Luisa Sharpe


Looking into bladder cancer research offers new hope for early detection and treatment for those who are afflicted by it. Early detection has been a problem for patients and doctors alike because advanced cancers are more likely to be lethal. New treatments are also being sought by scientists as a means of saving lives.

The studies dealing with earlier detection use analyses of urine to detect the tumors through proteins common to the growth. There are three separate types of urine analyses that are showing promise. The BTA test looks for specific proteins that may signal a return of prior cancers. It is very accurate but can be influenced by other conditions.

The NMP22 test is used to detect the most common cancers found in bladders. These are transitional cell cancers and they produce a protein in the nucleus of their cells that is found in small amounts in all people. When the levels of this protein increase it can be detected by this test.

The newest test being used is the Mcm5 test. It has shown itself to be just as effective at detecting TCC as the NMP22 test. When used together these two tests reliably indicate the presence of TCC earlier than other methods.

The method doctors most commonly use to find tumors is to use the cystoscopy system which is very effective and invasive. The doctor must insert a camera into the bladders of their patients after a liquid has been injected that helps illuminate the tumor and blood vessels that feed it. This procedure would need to be done regardless of any other tests that have been done.

Further studies are being made on the treatment of these cancers. One study involves using light reactive drugs to treat the cells. In this study the drug is put into patients bladders and allowed to sit for awhile. Saline solution is added and then they use a special light to activate the drugs. This method is very effective. It kills the cells and damages the blood vessels that feed them. It then triggers your immune system to destroy the tumor completely.

Combination therapies are being tested and proving to be effective also. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used together to first shrink the tumor prior to considering surgery. Radiotherapy works to help stop the tumors from returning after treatment. Another step that is often added is to flood the affected area with oxygen because the cells die easier when they are flooded with oxygen.

Other therapies being researched are hyperthermia and chemotherapy used together to help stop the return of tumors in patients. Medication is placed into the patient and heated with a micro-wave probe to enhance its effectiveness. Another approach that is gaining popularity is biological therapies. This process uses natural body substances to fight this disease. The drugs being made from body substances are being tested in multiple trials to determine the extent of their effectiveness on several different cancers. They have proven effective in several studies and appear to have a promising outcome in many others. The scientists are also constantly developing new drugs for this condition. The new drugs must be thoroughly tested and proven prior to being used for treatment on humans.




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