A critical review of the role of definitive radiation therapy in bladder cancer

The role of radiation therapy in the management of bladder cancer continues to be controversial. Attention to the issue of response to treatment, instead of overall survival, ultimate local control and quality of life, has hampered progress in determining the optimal-treatment strategy for patients with bladder cancer. Although the heterogeneity of bladder cancer has been recognized for some time now, the trend has been to seek one cure for all, rather than to use the available modalities selectively and optimally. The use of continent urinary diversion has made cystectomy more acceptable, but no form of diversion is as satisfying as a natural, well functioning bladder. The case against definitive XRT has been built on the lack of total radiosensitivity of transitional cell carcinoma. It is interesting that the lack of total chemosensitivity of bladder cancer and total curability with surgery has not prevented those modalities from being widely used. The recognition of the systemic nature of invasive bladder cancer has appropriately led to increased attention to the control of systemic disease. However, this has led to, at times, compromised local therapy. The use of primary or adjuvant chemotherapy should not impede the pursuit of optimal local therapy in patients with bladder cancer with the emphasis on the optimal quality of life. In parallel, the goal of bladder preservation and improved quality of life should not overshadow the importance of local tumor control. Because metastatic bladder cancer currently is an almost universally lethal disease, we should optimize the use of effective treatment modalities to achieve modest improvements in cure rate. The idea that definitive radiation therapy has no role in the management of bladder cancer exists in the minds of those who hold strong convictions and see an alternative view to their own as being controversial. We believe that attention should not focus on this controversy but on the recognition of the reality that the best management of bladder cancer is a shared responsibility among the oncologists of all disciplines. With this recognition, clinical research toward improving outcome for patients with bladder cancer will move forward.