Current standards and practice changing studies in genitourinary (GU) cancers—a review of studies in localized/early GU cancers

Optimizing treatment of genitourinary cancers in the early-stage setting continues to remain an area of need, given that the development of distant metastases is often the life-limiting factor in the natural history of these cancers. The use of perioperative therapies in the treatment of these cancers deemed to be at high risk of recurrence has shown considerable benefits in outcomes in recent studies. In this article, we review the recently published studies in early-stage genitourinary cancers (renal cell, urothelial and prostate carcinomas), and their impact on disease outcomes and treatment practices. The results of subgroup analysis from some of these trials, with Asian patients enrolled, give assurance of the clinical efficacy and safety of these therapies in early-stage urological malignancies in the Asian setting.