Piyush K. Agarwal, MD, presented “BCG Unresponsive Intravesical Therapy” at the 7th International Bladder Cancer Update on December 6, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.
How to cite: Agarwal, Piyush K. “BCG Unresponsive Intravesical Therapy” December 2024. Accessed Mar 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/bcg-unresponsive-intravesical-therapy/
BCG Unresponsive Intravesical Therapy – Summary
Piyush K. Agarwal, MD, explores the evolving landscape of treatments for BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer, emphasizing novel therapies, sequencing challenges, and clinical trial insights.
In this 30-minute presentation, Dr. Agarwal highlights the role of BCG therapy, defining BCG-refractory and BCG-relapsing patients, and underscores the limitations of current FDA-approved treatments. Data from various trials demonstrate the efficacy of agents like gemcitabine, pembrolizumab, nadofaragene, and IL-15 fusion proteins. The complexity of clinical decision-making is addressed, including considerations for sequencing treatments, patient accessibility, and the balance between efficacy and tolerability.
The forum’s experts enhance the discussion, addressing the real-world challenges of integrating these therapies into clinical practice and emphasizing the need for multi-center registries and randomized trials to refine treatment strategies. The talk calls for a deeper exploration of resistance mechanisms and better biomarker-driven patient selection to optimize treatment pathways. The ongoing need for comparative studies is underscored, as the field seeks to determine the most effective and sustainable therapeutic strategies.
About the 7th International Bladder Cancer Update:
The International Bladder Cancer Update (IBCU) is a CME conference focused on the diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer. The conference offers medical professionals an opportunity to listen to updates from, and interact with, expert international faculty to improve knowledge and determine best treatment practices to improve patient outcomes. IBCU encompasses expert lectures, interactive discussions, a panel roundtable, debates, and case presentations. It is physician-led, multi-supported, and designed for urologists, urologic oncologists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the treatment of bladder cancer.
For further educational activities from this conference, visit our collection page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Piyush K. Agarwal, MD, earned his medical degree at Weill Cornell Medicine and completed his residency at University Hospital Cleveland Medical Center and a fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
