Bladder cancer

Bladder Cancer Background

Bladder Cancer is the fourth most prevalent cancer for both sexes in Europe and North America.²⁹

There are about 940,000 prevalent cases of bladder cancer in Europe and North America for both sexes²⁹
In males Bladder Cancer is the third most prevalent cancer³⁰
GLOBOCAN estimates an incidence 288,794 (new cases)³¹ in Europe and North America

bladder cancer both sexes

bladder cancer world view

Bladder cancer males

Incidence and mortality of bladder cancer is particularly high in Europe and North America³²

Incidence and mortality

incidence and mortality 2

Risk factors

The major risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking, which is estimated to account for 50–65% of cases in males and 20–35% of cases in females³³

Additionally several environmental carcinogens are thought to influence bladder cancer susceptibility¹⁶

Bladder cancer tumor classification

Non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) includes the subtypes:
Approximately 75% of patients with BC present with a disease confined to the mucosa (stage Ta, CIS) or submucosa (stage T1)¹⁶
T1 and CIS, as compared to Ta, have high malignant potential¹⁶
CIS is the hardest of all tumors to detect¹³

tumor classification 2

CIS – Carcinoma in Situ

CIS simply isn’t visible in half of cases observed¹³

The mere presence of CIS more than doubles the risk of progression¹⁴

CIS is a high grade carcinoma with potential for invasion and metastases¹³

carcinoma in situ

High-recurrence rates

Bladder cancer is associated with high-risk of recurrence¹⁴

high recurrence rates

High economic cost of treatment

Bladder cancer is expensive to manage^24,25,26

Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment cost per patient of all cancers^24,25,26

High rate of incomplete TURBTs

High rate of residual tumor after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT), 34% - 76% of patients have evidence of
tumor on repeat TURBT at 2-6 weeks^35,36,37

High unmet need

Comparatively little evolution in the 5-year relative survival rate for Bladder cancer versus other cancers since 1975³⁸

High recurrence rate and risk of progression requires frequent and
lifetime follow-up with:

Multiple cystoscopies
TURBTs
Instillation therapy

For more information please refer to the Patient Burden Section

high unmet need