For decades, patients with aggressive bladder cancer have faced a difficult choice: undergo major surgery to remove the bladder or risk the disease coming back. Now, a new approach is rewriting that story — and it’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
A new kind of treatment
Researchers from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine have developed a miniature device that slowly releases chemotherapy directly inside the bladder.
The method, tested in a global phase 2 clinical trial, has achieved results that have stunned cancer specialists.
Known as TAR-200, the tiny, pretzel-shaped implant releases the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine gradually over three weeks.
Also read: Dry cleaning chemical linked to higher risk of liver damage, study finds
Unlike traditional treatments, where the drug only remains in the bladder for a few hours, this slow-release approach allows deeper and longer contact with cancer cells.
In the study, 82 percent of patients with high-risk bladder cancer saw their tumors completely disappear — and nearly half remained cancer-free a year later.
How the device works
Inserted through a catheter, the device stays in the bladder for weeks, continuously releasing medication directly at the tumor site.
Because the drug is concentrated where it’s needed most, fewer side effects occur compared to standard chemotherapy.
Also read: Research suggests home cooking may be the key to weight loss
Doctors administered TAR-200 every three weeks for six months, followed by quarterly doses for up to two years.
Of the 85 participants treated, 70 had complete tumor clearance, and most reported minimal discomfort.
A step toward gentler cancer care
The success of TAR-200 highlights the growing promise of slow-release cancer therapies — treatments that deliver powerful drugs locally, reducing the need for harsh systemic treatments.
While other experimental combinations added immunotherapy, researchers found TAR-200 worked best on its own, with stronger outcomes and fewer side effects.
Also read: Eating spinach the wrong way can harm your health
The therapy has now been granted Priority Review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, fast-tracking its potential approval.
Scientists at USC and the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center believe this could one day replace bladder removal surgery for many patients — transforming care for one of the world’s most common cancers.
If confirmed in upcoming studies, this discreet device could mark the beginning of a new era: cancer treatment that’s not only effective, but also gentler on the body.
Artiklen er baseret på informationer fra Ascopups and Science Daily
Also read: New research links antidepressants to changes in gut bacteria
Also read: Doctors highlight symptoms that may indicate bowel cancer