Patients Benefit From Advances at Miami Cancer Institute’s Abbhi Family Bladder Cancer Clinic

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, a good time to learn more about this common type of cancer. Researchers at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute and beyond are working to improve the understanding of bladder cancer while also studying how to improve treatments and preserve the quality of life. With recent advances in targeted and immunotherapies, as well as newfound success with combination treatments, treating those who suffer from advanced bladder cancer could become more effective and less toxic.

These advances in bladder cancer care are driven by the rapid adoption of novel technologies such as genetic testing, artificial intelligence (Al) and more precise diagnostic, treatment and surgical techniques. Experts at Miami Cancer Institute are embracing these tools to provide breakthrough care that offers patients hope.

With its renowned medical expertise, Miami Cancer Institute’s Abbhi Family Bladder Cancer Clinic provides comprehensive, compassionate care for patients with all stages of bladder cancer, zeroing in on the best, individualized treatment options for each patient.

“Each patient who is diagnosed has a different grade of disease, a different expression of bladder cancer. So one treatment does not fit everybody,” said Murugesan Manoharan, M.D., Miami Cancer Institute’s chief of urologic-oncologic surgery and Abbhi Family Endowed Chair in Urologic Oncology, who is a renowned leader in the treatment of prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer and other urologic malignancies. “The goal is to identify and classify the disease correctly and to determine the best treatment approach for each patient.”

Securing the right care is key. The National Institutes of Health notes that patients have significantly better outcomes and greater survival rates when they seek cancer treatment in experienced hands at high-volume facilities such as Miami Cancer Institute. This is also why Miami Cancer Institute spearheaded the creation of the Global Bladder Cancer Consortium (GBCC), a collaboration between the world’s top experts in bladder cancer. The consortium aims to create a large and diverse patient database, launching clinical trials at multiple sites throughout the world and sharing information to improve patient outcomes.

The establishment of the Consortium was possible thanks to a $5 million donation to the Baptist Health Foundation from the Abbhi Family Foundation. A large portion of the gift went to the startup of the Abbhi Family Bladder Cancer Clinic. It also led to the creation of the Abbhi Family Endowed Chair in Urologic Oncology to support Dr. Manoharan’s work. “We wanted to create more opportunities to support research in the field of bladder cancer,” said Deepak Abbhi, trustee for the Abbhi Family Foundation.”My hope is that the research at Miami Cancer Institute’s Bladder Cancer Clinic will help improve patient survival rates and quality of life, and educate cancer caregivers, both locally and internationally.”

“There are so many therapies and technologies available now that are revolutionizing the diagnosis and treatment of cancer,” said the group’s leader, Dr. Manoharan. “We’re proud to be at the forefront. We now have the ability to personalize treatment, but just as with other types of cancer, the earlier it is caught the better.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 83,190 new cases of bladder cancer will be diagnosed in 2024 in the United States, and the incidence is four times higher in men than in women. Bladder cancer occurs mainly in older people, with about 90 percent of cases diagnosed among patients over the age of 55. Almost 17,000 deaths are expected from this type of cancer in 2024.

Current treatments are based on the type of bladder cancer and the stage of the disease. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the role of precision medicine. Molecular profiling of tumors allows clinicians to identify genetic alterations and tailor treatment strategies accordingly.

Sometimes, the cancer cells remain confined to the lining without growing into the deeper layers of the bladder. This is often referred to as noninvasive or non-muscle invasive. Treatment for this cancer is usually focused on removing the tumor by scraping it from the bladder wall.

When the bladder needs to be removed, Dr. Manoharan is an expert in robotic surgery. The robotic tools magnify the surgical area and provide a 3D view of the bladder and surrounding tissue, making it less likely that nearby nerves will be affected by the surgery. This helps protect sexual function and bowel control, while improving recovery.

Dr. Manoharan was also a pioneer in reconstructing a new bladder with tissue from the intestines to avoid the need for an external ostomy bag to collect urine. That surgery can be performed at the same time as the bladder’s removal, usually robotically. Having performed more than 64,000 robotic procedures, Baptist Health has one of the most robust robotic surgery programs in the country.

“Robotics has revolutionized how we perform surgery, and we are excited to be among the most high-performing programs,”

Said John Diaz, M.D., director of robotic surgery and chief of gynecologic oncology at Miami Cancer Institute.”Studies show that programs with high volumes have better patient outcomes, and as our tools get better and more precise, we expand our ability to perform less invasive surgeries with less blood loss, less chance of infection, minimal scarring and a quicker recovery time for patients.”

Physicians at Miami Cancer Institute are now using a new single-incision technique to perform robot-assisted surgery on select patients with urologic cancers. Soon, the single-port procedure may also be available to treat some bladder cancers.

“It’s an evolving technology, and there will be more we can do in the future,” said Dr. Manoharan.

One of the most promising developments in advanced bladder cancer treatment is immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors work by unleashing the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. In addition, targeted therapies have emerged as a treatment option for certain sub-types of bladder cancer. This offers hope to patients who may have had no options for effective treatment before.

To learn more about the recent advances in bladder cancer treatment and Miami Cancer Institute’s Abbhi Family Bladder Cancer Clinic, please visit https://cancer.baptisthealth.net/miami-cancer-institute/cancer-care/treatments-and-services/abbhi-family-bladder-cancer-clinic