Ep. 193 Bladder Cancer Innovations: ESMO 2024 Highlights with Dr. Andrea Apolo

Catch up on the latest breakthroughs in bladder cancer management. In this episode of the BackTable Urology Podcast, Dr. Bogdana Schmidt (University of Utah) speaks with Dr. Andrea Apolo, a medical oncologist at the National Cancer Institute, about recent advancements in bladder cancer treatment presented at the 2024 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress. --- SYNPOSIS They review pivotal trials like the NIAGARA and AMBASSADOR studies, the TAR-200 drug delivery system, the use of bladder-sparing treatment, and the role of ctDNA as a biomarker. Further, they detail the effectiveness of systemic therapies such as gemcitabine and pembrolizumab, the implications of perioperative immunotherapy, and the future role of antibody-drug conjugates. The conversation highlights the trend towards less invasive approaches while improving survival rates from bladder cancer. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Introduction 03:49 - NIAGARA Trial 09:10 - Challenges in Bladder Cancer Treatment 18:56 - AMBASSADOR Trial 25:30 - Adjuvant Immunotherapy 29:30 - Exploring Biomarkers and ctDNA 36:34 - Surgery and Less Invasive Therapies 46:31 - Future Directions in Bladder Cancer Treatment --- RESOURCES ESMO https://www.esmo.org/