Written by:
Katy Miller
Vice President, Global Franchise Head, Immuno-Oncology & GI Cancer, AstraZeneca
Neelima Denduluri
Vice President, Global Medical Affairs, Gynaecological / Genitourinary Cancers, AstraZeneca
Ashok Gupta
Vice President, Global Clinical Strategy Head, Genitourinary Cancers, AstraZeneca
At AstraZeneca, our ambition to eliminate cancer as a cause of death leads us to tirelessly follow the science to where the need is greatest. Our unwavering commitment to drive innovation that can help transform patient outcomes fuels our efforts across the oncology landscape, particularly in areas of high unmet need like bladder cancer.
Bladder cancer is a complex disease that can be stubbornly progressive in its course and burdensome for patients. Each member of our global team has a unique journey that informs our collective passion to pursue leadership in bladder cancer management.
Last year, I shared how cancer’s impact in my family and community deepened my understanding of what is at stake in the work we do at AstraZeneca. With that perspective, I am immensely proud of the strides we are making and the difference we aim to achieve for people with cancer.
This dedication is reflected in our multi-pronged approach to advancing bladder cancer care, focused on:
- Improving Survival Outcomes and Patient Experience: Looking beyond aiming to progress the standard of care, we are designing clinical programmes that integrate novel therapies with established treatments. Our goal is to provide meaningful increases in survival, while simultaneously improving the patient journey by carefully considering factors like quality of life, tolerability and the potential to preserve the bladder.
- Highlighting the Importance of Early Collaboration and Intervention: The earlier bladder cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance of long-term survival.1 Shifting to earlier intervention requires engagement across multi-disciplinary teams. Given the complexity of bladder cancer, particularly at earlier stages when the need to engage a wider variety of healthcare providers is greater, we are fostering improved collaboration among specialists to ensure patients receive the most comprehensive care.
Addressing Unmet Needs: Beyond Recurrence and Mortality
In my time working in oncology research for over 20 years, I have had the privilege of witnessing and contributing to remarkable advancements in cancer care. My work has been guided by a belief in the power of scientific discovery to profoundly impact disease progression and offer new hope to patients. This commitment to push the boundaries of what is possible is what fuels my work in clinical strategy at AstraZeneca.
In bladder cancer, this translates into a relentless pursuit of improved survival outcomes and an enhanced patient experience. We are exploring innovative combinations that integrate immuno-oncology with established treatments like surgery, chemotherapy or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. This synergistic approach has the potential to induce a local immune response and overcome mechanisms of resistance with the ultimate aim of improving long-term outcomes.
Across oncology, significant progress has come from the discovery of novel treatment modalities and then integrating them with established treatments to maximise their potential. By looking beyond the current standard of care and designing clinical programmes that aim to alter the course of the disease, our goal is to achieve sustained, lasting benefits for patients, while carefully considering factors like tolerability and overall quality of life.
As we continue on this path of discovery, we must pursue treatment approaches that not only target the disease effectively but also minimise the need for repeat procedures, reduce the risk of progression to life-altering surgeries and allow patients to live fuller, more active lives.
Evolving Directions Toward More Comprehensive Care
For over two decades as a practicing medical oncologist, I have had firsthand exposure to some of the critical disparities in cancer care, particularly among underserved populations. I have cared for many patients who received a late bladder cancer diagnosis, when the cancer was already in advanced stages. This ignited my passion to not only treat the disease but to fundamentally address the systemic inequities that prevent patients from accessing optimal care.
Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer in the world, and it presents a formidable challenge for patients and healthcare systems alike.2 For many, the experience is marked by intensive and often life-altering treatments such as painful procedures inside the bladder, removal of the bladder itself, chemotherapy or intravesical BCG therapy.3 While such treatments can be life-saving, they also carry a substantial risk of recurrence, progression or death within five years, making the patient experience physically demanding and emotionally draining.4-7
These associated burdens reveal a profound unmet need, not just in terms of extending survival, but critically, in improving quality of life for patients and ensuring equitable access to comprehensive care. Limited awareness of risk factors, such as tobacco use, aging and occupational exposures, especially in populations where education around the importance of getting screened may not be prioritised, could contribute to delays in diagnosis.8-9 To truly account for these discrepancies, we need to call for increased communication and collaboration across healthcare providers to help ensure that diagnosis and intervention happen earlier.
At AstraZeneca, we believe a holistic approach to transforming bladder cancer care includes advocating for integrated, multidisciplinary care models that strengthen the partnership between urologists, who traditionally manage early-stage disease, and oncologists, who oversee systemic therapies. By working together, we can ensure that every patient, regardless of their background, receives an individualised and holistic management plan.
