PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although bladder cancer is considered a chemosensitive disease, the prognosis of patients with metastatic disease is still poor with median survival being approximately 12-14 months in good prognosis patients and with cure in only a minority of patients. The addition of new drugs to the standard cisplatin-based regimens has not improved these figures. The purpose of this review is to highlight the role of chemotherapy and the impact of the new targeted agents in the treatment of metastatic bladder carcinoma.

RECENT FINDINGS

A better understanding of the biology of the molecular patterns of urothelial bladder cancer has led to the clinical investigation of several therapeutic targets such as antiangiogenics, anti-EGFR agents, and immunomodulatory agents. To date, these agents have yet to demonstrate an improvement in overall survival. The molecular alterations that drive platinum resistance and the study of the genetic profiles will help to identify the prognostic and predictive biomarkers.

SUMMARY

No major advances have been achieved in the recent years in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment of metastatic disease. Several targeted agents are currently under investigation, but no major breakthroughs have been achieved with these drugs. Development of less toxic, more effective agents is crucial and clinical trial participation needs to be emphasized.