title: Trimodality treatment in the conservative management of infiltrating bladder cancer: a critical review of the literature.
abstract: Although radical cystectomy is still the treatment of choice for patients with infiltrating bladder cancer, there is growing evidence of the effectiveness of a conservative approach. Developed as a treatment of need for elderly or unfit patients unable to undergo radical cystectomy, conservative therapy is becoming a true alternative to surgery for highly selected patients. Although transurethral bladder resection, external radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy can control the disease as single treatments, the best results have been observed when they are combined. Moreover, new irradiation techniques and new-generation drugs are now being tested in an attempt to improve disease control further. Conservative management requires the multidisciplinary involvement of different specialties in order to give patients a real alternative to surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy. orazio.caffo@apss.tn.it
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Caffo
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Veccia
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fellin
authors.forename: Lucianna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mussari
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galligioni
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015653:Cystectomy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D000093542:Gemcitabine