Management of Advanced Bladder Cancer: An Update

Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States; therefore, the majority of clinicians working in the oncology setting will care for this patient population. Unfortunately, treatment plans, especially in the advanced setting, lack consistency. This, along with the advanced age and comorbidities of most bladder cancer patients, can provide challenges for clinicians when developing treatment plans. In the past 2 years, new drug approvals, specifically those for immune checkpoint inhibitors, have changed the treatment landscape for bladder cancer for the first time since the 1980s. This review article outlines the current management for muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer, while also highlighting future considerations in this disease space. It is imperative that oncology advanced practice providers are up to date with these new changes and have a sound understanding of treatment principles for patients with advanced bladder cancer in order to deliver the safest and most effective care.