Siamak Daneshmand, MD, presented “Highlights of NCCN/AUA Guidelines 2024” at the 7th International Bladder Cancer Update on December 6, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.
How to cite: Daneshmand, Siamak. “Highlights of NCCN/AUA Guidelines 2024.” December 2024. Accessed Apr 2025. https://grandroundsinurology.com/highlights-of-nccn-aua-guidelines-2024/
Highlights of NCCN/AUA Guidelines 2024 – Summary
Siamak Daneshmand, MD, covers recent updates in bladder cancer guidelines, focusing on the 2024 NCCN and AUA recommendations.
In this 26-minute presentation, Dr. Daneshmad emphasizes genetic testing, making germline testing and genetic counseling more routine. He prefers gemcitabine over mitomycin due to the latter’s severe, idiosyncratic side effects, and most urologists have adopted it for intravesical therapy.
The experts enter the discussion to debate the classification of high-grade urothelial carcinoma. Histological subtypes are being redefined, with variant histology terminology being challenged by WHO’s push for “subtypes,” leading to controversy among experts. Molecular genomic testing is increasingly recommended. The panel shares concerns about intravesical gemcitabine’s systemic absorption, leading to unexpected hair loss and thrombocytopenia. The discussion touches on lymph node involvement in variant histology, showing urothelial rather than aggressive variants in metastases. Finally, adjuvant nivolumab is reinforced as the standard for high-risk post-cystectomy patients, with evolving strategies for bladder preservation.
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
Siamak Daneshmand, MD, is Professor of Urology and Medicine (Oncology) with Clinical Scholar designation and serves as Director of Urologic Oncology, as well as the Urologic Oncology (SUO) Fellowship Director at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. His main clinical interests include bladder cancer, testicular cancer, and advanced kidney cancer. He is a leading authority in the management of complex germ cell tumors and nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) following chemotherapy for advanced testicular cancer and is one of the highest volume surgeons for this disease in the country. His main research interests focus on the use of pathways to improve perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy and post-chemo RPLND, use of serum and molecular markers and new technologies in diagnosis and management of bladder and testicular cancers, as well as functional outcomes following orthotopic urinary diversion. He serves on the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines panel for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, as well as the AUA guidelines panel for testicular cancer. He currently serves as the chair of bladder section of the Society of Urologic Oncology Clinical Trials Consortium (SUO-CTC), is on the scientific steering committee of several bladder cancer clinical trials, and has led over a dozen clinical trials in bladder cancer and a pivotal trial in testicular cancer (SEMS). He is currently secretary of the Western Section of the AUA. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and has been designated one of the “America’s Top Cancer Doctors” for the past 12 consecutive years. He has been a career leader in academic investigations in bladder cancer and germ cell tumors and was recently appointed as the chair of the SWOG Cancer Research Network local bladder committee. He has been a visiting professor at more than 25 institutions around the world. He has presented over 500 abstracts at scientific meetings and has authored over 375 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters.
Dr. Daneshmand earned his medical degree at the University of California, Davis, and completed his residency at the University of Southern California, followed by a two-year fellowship in Urologic Oncology at the University of Southern California’s Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.
