Management of BCG failure in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer the present and the future

Bladder neoplasms are still among the most common cancer types in the Czech Republic. Even though the majority (more than 90%) of bladder tumours are of urothelial origin, the group is vastly heterogeneous in terms of biological behaviour and thus also progression of the disease. Adequate adjuvant treatment is the cornerstone of the therapy in high-risk patients for disease recurrence, particularly those with a high risk of progression to a muscle-invasive disease (T2 and higher). Intravesical BCG immunotherapy still remains such a therapy. It is a standard therapy with well-established efficacy as regards the recurrence rate and a reduced risk of progression. Nevertheless, radical cystectomy is recommended in patients in whom this therapy fails. Considering the non-negligible morbidity and mortality associated with this type of surgery, intensive research efforts have been put forth to develop new bladder preserving strategies. This article outlines the main bladder preserving strategies that are currently explored.