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

33. Datamonitor Report “Bladder Cancer: Disease Coverage” Downloaded on January 2019.

incidence and mortality 2

Risk factors

risk factor 1
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
risk factor 2
Additionally several environmental carcinogens are thought to influence bladder cancer susceptibility16

Bladder cancer tumor classification

  • Non-muscular invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) includes the subtypes:
    34. Anastasiadis et al. Ther Adv Urol 2012; 4(1):13-32. tumor classification
  • 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 manage24,25,26

Bladder cancer has the highest lifetime treatment cost per patient of all cancers24,25,26

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 weeks35,36,37

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