Aarhus, Denmark (UroToday.com) Margaret Knowles presented the International Bladder Cancer Network (IBCN) Keynote address regarding the clinical application of molecular features of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).
She reviewed her work in NMIBC and specifically mutation analysis, exome sequencing, transcriptome, and genome wide NGS to determine copy number. A major question with NMIBC is should we lump them together or divide NMIBC? NMIBC is heterogeneous and her work supports dividing NMIBC accordingly. This can be explained phenotypically and biologically through mutation analyses and copy number using next-generation sequencing (NGS). She presented preliminary work supporting this theory (cannot disclose due to manuscript in preparation). Subtype classification is important and improved classification of NMIBC is needed. Defining outcomes for NMIBC is a challenge due to complex treatment regimens and endpoints. Dividing NMIBC into Ta, T1, and CIS as well as standardizing subtype classification in addition to standardized definition of endpoints are needed to improve our understanding of this heterogeneous disease.
Presented by: Margaret Knowles, Ph.D., Professor of Experimental Cancer Research at University of Leeds, UK
Written by: Written by: Stephen B. Williams, MD, Medical Director for High Value Care; Chief of Urology, Associate Professor, Director of Urologic Oncology, Director Urologic Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, TX and Ashish M. Kamat, MD, Professor, Department of Urology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX at the 17th meeting of the International Bladder Cancer Network, (IBCN, #IBCN2019) October 3rd – 5th, 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark.