Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Management of Bladder Cancer – Importance of Biomarkers

Despite improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer, the death rates of bladder cancer have been increasing over the past two decades. In addition, bladder cancer has one of the highest recurrence rates of any tumor type. Although treatment, such as administration of intravesical immunologic or chemotherapeutic agents, helps lower the risk of recurrence, the risk still remains 31%–78% after 5 years. Unfortunately, up to 45% of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) progresses to muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) after 5 years, leading to dismal survival rates associated with more advance disease. When diagnosed early as NMIBC, including stage 0 or I, a cure with surgical resection is possible in a high percentage of cases: a 5-year survival rate of 98% and 88%, respectively. However, once it becomes MIBC or metastatic including stage II, III, and IV, it is fatal, with an estimated 5-year survival rate of 63%, 46%, and 15%, respectively. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel strategies for prevention and treatment of bladder cancer. The forthcoming Special Issue will welcome submissions on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Risk factors (epidemiological and biological factors including the mechanism);
• Non-invasive detection biomarkers, such as blood- and urine-based biomarkers;
• Novel DNA, RNA, and protein biomarkers;
• Extracellular vesicles;
• Precision medicine;
• Immunotherapy including immune checkpoint inhibitors;
• Predictive biomarkers.

Dr. Hideki Furuya
Dr. Charles Rosser
Guest Editor

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