Purpose of review: Here, we will review and summarize the current status and emerging data supporting the use of trimodality therapy as an alternative to cystectomy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.
Recent findings: There are no randomized-controlled data comparing radical cystectomy with bladder preserving trimodality therapy available for comparison. However, observational data suggests acceptable bladder preservation and functional outcomes in patients receiving bladder preserving trimodality therapy as well as similar oncologic outcomes in select patients compared to radical cystectomy. Future trials are focusing on new techniques and novel therapeutics in patients with bladder cancer. Bladder preserving trimodality therapy results in satisfactory quality of life and comparable disease outcomes for select patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder compared to cystectomy.
Keywords: Bladder cancer; Bladder preservation; Muscle-invasive; Trimodality therapy.