New bladder cancer treatment shows 82% success in breakthrough trial

An experimental drug has shown promise in combating a difficult-to-treat form of bladder cancer known as high-risk, BCG-unresponsive non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) is an immunotherapy drug that is often the first-line treatment for certain early-stage bladder cancers.

The new drug, TAR-200, which was evaluated in a trial sponsored and conducted by Janssen Research & Development, LLC, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, may offer a less invasive alternative to bladder removal surgery.

KILLING STATE ENDS IN TOP 10 LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AS GLOBAL CASES INCREASE

TAR-200 is a small drug-delivering device placed directly into the bladder in a simple outpatient procedure, without general anesthesia, according to the study press release.

Once inserted, it slowly releases the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine over several weeks.

Researchers say the new device inserted into the bladder could prevent patients from losing their bladder completely. (iStock)

“Traditionally, these patients have had very limited treatment options. This new therapy is the most effective reported to date for the most common form of bladder cancer,” Sia Daneshmand, MD, director of urologic oncology at Keck Medicine of USC, leader of the study, said in a press release.

“The clinical trial results represent a major advance in how certain types of bladder cancer could be treated, leading to better outcomes and saving lives.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and the 11th most common in women.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer is found in the tissues that line the inner surface of the bladder.

“Bladder cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers worldwide, yet treatment options have remained largely unchanged for more than 40 years.”

High-risk NMIBC carries a greater chance of returning after treatment. This study aimed to find an option for patients whose cancer recurred even after standard treatment.

“The standard treatment plan for these patients was surgery to remove the bladder and surrounding tissues and organs, which carries many health risks and can negatively impact patients’ quality of life,” Daneshmand said.

This new therapy could potentially allow some patients to avoid this procedure.

Trial results showed that many patients remained cancer-free for more than two years. (iStock)

All study participants had high-risk NMIBC that did not respond to standard BCG immunotherapy medication. The study was divided into several groups that tested different combinations of drugs and treatment methods.

In one group, patients received TAR-200 once every three weeks for about six months, followed by maintenance treatments every 12 weeks for up to two years.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

Of the 85 patients in this group, 82.4% had no detectable signs of cancer after treatment. Of this group, 52.9% remained cancer-free after one year, and many remained cancer-free for more than two years without needing additional treatment.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

In another group of patients with a less aggressive type of early-stage bladder cancer, early disease-free survival rates were 85.3% at six months and 81.1% at nine months. In total, 94% were able to keep their bladder.

Clinical trial results were published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The TAR-200 device delivers gemcitabine directly to the bladder, keeping the medication where it is needed most. (iStock)

The researchers stressed that this is still mid-term data (phase 2b). Longer-term, larger trials and regulatory reviews are still needed before the treatment can become standard of care.

“Because the study did not include a traditional comparison (no randomized control arm), we cannot say with certainty how TAR-200 compares to other treatments fairly,” the researchers wrote.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

Patients in this study are a specific subset (non-BCG responsive and eligible for bladder preservation) and may not represent all cases of bladder cancer.

“In addition, the duration of follow-up remains relatively short and the number of patients modest, meaning that we do not yet know how long the benefits will last or how they will apply to larger, more diverse groups of people,” the researchers added.