Southwest Oncology Group studies in bladder cancer

Over 50,000 patients are diagnosed annually with bladder cancer, and approximately 10,000 eventually will die of their disease. Thus, the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Genitourinary Cancer Committee is committed to the study of therapeutic interventions in patients with superficial, invasive, and metastatic bladder cancer. In the past 15 years, SWOG has completed six Phase III, randomized trials. Studies in patients with superficial disease have established the role of bacillus Calmette-Guerin in patient management; and a large, randomized trial has outlined the value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and cystectomy in patients with advanced disease. SWOG plans to build on this model by evaluating patients with residual disease after chemotherapy for possible bladder preservation while evaluating more chemotherapy for patients with persistent disease. The Genitourinary Cancer Committee will continue to seek new, active agents for metastatic disease and will participate in and support large, Phase III, international trials that seek to improve current regimens. SWOG accomplishments in bladder cancer are highlighted, and future strategies are discussed. (C) 2003 American Cancer Society.