A recent clinical trial has demonstrated promising results for a new bladder cancer treatment method known as TAR-200. Conducted by Keck Medicine of USC, the trial involved 85 patients with high-risk, treatment-resistant non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer, a common form of the disease. The TAR-200 system utilizes a pretzel-shaped delivery device inserted into the bladder to administer the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. This method allows the drug to remain in the bladder for an extended period, significantly longer than traditional treatments.
The trial results indicate that 70 out of 85 participants experienced a complete disappearance of cancer after three months of treatment. Additionally, nearly half of the patients remained cancer-free one year later. TAR-200 was administered every three weeks for six months, followed by four additional treatments per year for two years. The treatment was reported to be well-tolerated, with minimal side effects.
Sia Daneshmand, MD, the director of urologic oncology at Keck Medicine and lead author of the study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, described the findings as a breakthrough in bladder cancer treatment. Historically, patients with this type of cancer have faced limited options, making these results particularly significant.
The trial's design was extensive, involving 144 locations worldwide, and included patients who had previously undergone treatment with an immunotherapy drug called Bacillus Calmette-Guérin before their cancer returned. Daneshmand highlighted the potential of this treatment to improve patient outcomes and save lives, marking a notable advancement in cancer therapy.