Invasive bladder cancer. Strategies for cure and bladder preservation.

At the present time, standard therapy for invasive bladder cancer includes radical cystectomy and urinary diversion. Clearly, there is a population of patients who can be rendered tumor free by combinations of irradiation and chemotherapy, or irradiation and surgery. These patients may not require total cystectomy to be cured. Only time and experience will tell which treatment regimens can provide both cure and preservation of the urinary bladder.