From the precision medicine approach, it seeks to make a difference in the lives of patients through the recognition of their individual differences, genes, environments and lifestyles. In the oncology area, the most recent advances have opened up the possibility of offering a greater survival rate and quality of life to people suffering from metastatic stage bladder cancer with a specific mutation.
Through precision medicine, it is possible to more accurately predict which treatment strategies will work for a very specific group of people with a particular disease, because while there are treatment options for different diseases, Janssen understands that there are different patient profiles. patients with symptoms presenting in different ways.
For this reason, this approach has allowed them to know in depth the diseases and the specific needs of each patient, which has been crucial for the development of treatments with a high range of effectiveness.
According to Santiago Posada, medical director of Janssen Mexico, “at the company we strive to improve the clinical trial process for all interested parties, from patients, researchers and the health industry in general. We work hard to create and incorporate new approaches and technologies, with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients and accelerating drug development. An example of this is the study where we examined 99 patients with metastatic urothelial cancer and for which, given its overall response rate, we were awarded the designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). of Innovative Treatment Therapy”.
Bladder cancer ranks ninth worldwide in terms of the number of cancer diagnoses. According to Globocan, for the year 2020, an incidence of 573,000 new cases and approximately 213,000 deaths worldwide was estimated. In Mexico, urothelial carcinoma represents 90% of the 9,587 reported cases of bladder cancer, which makes it the most common subtype.
This type of cancer originates in the urothelial cells that cover the interior of the bladder and as it grows it infiltrates the following layers. Once lodged in the entire muscle layer, metastasis to underlying organs occurs until distant metastasis occurs, due to circulating tumor DNA.
Dr. Nora Sobrevilla Moreno, a medical oncologist with extensive experience in the treatment of tumors of the genitourinary system, pointed out that smoking is the most important risk factor associated with bladder cancer and that, in addition to bleeding in the urine, in this disease irritative symptoms occur, such as burning when urinating, constant desire to urinate during the day and night, and urgency to urinate.
As they are so non-specific symptoms, they are often confused with sexually transmitted diseases or urinary tract infections, as well as kidney inflammation or urinary tract stones, which delays timely diagnosis and, with it, the possibility of offering greater hope. of life to patients.
The specialist also pointed out that, although it is a rare pathology, bladder cancer is an aggressive disease, therefore, despite the fact that most cases are diagnosed in early stages, it is necessary to be aware of diagnose it as soon as possible because late stages, such as metastatic urothelial carcinoma, have a poor prognosis.
Faced with this scenario, Dr. María Teresa Bourlon de los Ríos, head of the genitourinary tumor clinic at the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, added that chemotherapy is one of the current treatments for patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma. ; however, it has been seen that it is important to carry out a genetic test in these patients to find out whether or not they have any genetic alteration, such as the case of FGFR mutations, which, thanks to innovations and scientific research, people who did not have therapeutic alternatives to treat this disease in its advanced phase will be able to access more promising personalized treatments that are also administered orally.
Finally, the Janssen manager added: “We are convinced that it is possible to change the way bladder cancer is treated. With our scientific innovations, we are developing new treatment modalities to improve current solutions and create promising therapies for the future. We believe that precision medicine strengthens our therapeutic strategy to continue transforming the way of treating this disease in a comprehensive manner. This approach opens up a horizon of possibilities to improve the lives of people, who are the center of our work”.