Bladder Cancer (BLC)
Bladder cancer (BLC) is a complex and challenging disease that requires comprehensive research and extensive experience to accelerate the development of innovative therapies. At our company, we are dedicated to providing advanced services in BLC drug and therapy development.
Overview of Bladder Cancer (BLC)
Bladder cancer (BLC) is a malignant tumor that arises from the cells lining the bladder. Annually, there are over 80,000 newly diagnosed cases and more than 17,000 associated fatalities. Urothelial carcinoma is the most prevalent type, accounting for approximately 90% of cases. Other less common types include adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma. Early detection of BLC is challenging as it is often asymptomatic in its initial stages. However, common symptoms that may arise as the disease progresses include hematuria (blood in the urine), frequent urination, pain during urination, and back or pelvic pain.
Pathogenesis of Bladder Cancer (BLC)
- The primary cause of BLC is exposure to carcinogens, such as those found in tobacco smoke, industrial chemicals (e.g., aromatic amines), and certain chemotherapy drugs (e.g., cyclophosphamide).
- Certain gene mutations, such as alterations in tumor suppressor genes (e.g., TP53) or oncogenes (e.g., HRAS), can increase the risk of developing bladder cancer.
Fig. 1 Therapies for nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer. (Guallar-Garrido, et al., 2020)Biomarkers of Bladder Cancer (BLC)
UroVysion
A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test that detects chromosomal abnormalities associated with bladder cancer. It can help identify high-grade tumors and predict disease recurrence.
NMP22
A nuclear matrix protein that is elevated in the urine of bladder cancer patients. It can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool and for monitoring disease progression.
Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3 (FGFR3)
Mutations in the FGFR3 gene are commonly found in low-grade bladder tumors. Targeting FGFR3 mutations can provide a potential therapeutic avenue in specific cases.
| Protein Biomarkers | Gene-related Biomarkers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBC | CYFRA21-1 | BLCA-4 | CellDetect | Hyaluronic acid | DNA Methylation Markers | Histone Tail Modifications |
| sFas | Survivin | URO17 | MCM5-ADXBladder | miRNA Biomarkers | Multi-Gene Panels | |
Therapies of Bladder Cancer (BLC)
- Chemotherapy
Systemic or intravesical chemotherapy may be used to treat bladder cancer. Systemic chemotherapy, such as cisplatin-based regimens, is administered intravenously and targets cancer cells throughout the body. Intravesical chemotherapy involves placing anticancer drugs directly into the bladder via a catheter. - Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for bladder cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and atezolizumab, enhance the body's immune response against cancer cells. These therapies have shown significant clinical benefits in advanced bladder cancer. - Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy aims to inhibit specific molecular targets involved in bladder cancer growth and progression. Small molecule inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies can be used to block specific pathways or receptors, leading to tumor regression. Targeting FGFR with small molecule inhibitors, such as erdafitinib, has shown efficacy in FGFR-altered tumors.
Our Services
At our company, we are committed to advancing bladder cancer diagnostics and therapy development. Our comprehensive services encompass various aspects of bladder cancer research.
Therapy Development Platforms
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of potential therapies, we provide animal model development services to support preclinical research. By leveraging our state-of-the-art facilities and expertise, we strive to accelerate the translation of promising therapies from bench to bedside.
Animal Models of Bladder Cancer (BLC)
Through in-depth disease research, we provide customized animal model development services designed to support preclinical research on bladder cancer drugs and therapies, including drug safety evaluation and pharmacokinetic analysis.
| Transplantable Models | ||||
| Transplantable models play a crucial role in studying the growth and spread of bladder cancer. These models offered by our company involve the transplantation of bladder cancer cells or tissues into experimental animals, allowing researchers to observe tumor progression and evaluate the efficacy of potential treatments. | ||||
| Optional Models |
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| Carcinogen-Induced Models | ||||
| Carcinogen-induced models provide a valuable platform for studying the early stages of bladder cancer development, identifying biomarkers, and investigating potential preventive strategies. We carefully select and administer appropriate carcinogens known to induce bladder cancer in animals. | ||||
| Optional Carcinogens |
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| Transgenic Models | ||||
| We conduct thorough phenotypic characterization of the transgenic models, including histopathological analysis, molecular profiling, and functional assays. | ||||
| Optional Genetic Modifications | ARID1A, FGFR3, PIK3CA, TP53, TERT, KDM6A, KMT2D, HRAS, KRAS, CREBBP, RB1 and TSC1 genes | |||
| Optional Species | Mouse, Rat, Dog, Monkey, Others | |||
In addition to the aforementioned model development services, our company also offers various other animal model development services to cater to the diverse needs of bladder cancer research. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
References
- Guallar-Garrido, Sandra, and Esther Julián. "Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for bladder cancer: an update." ImmunoTargets and therapy (2020): 1-11.
- Sugeeta, Sukumar S., et al. "Biomarkers in bladder cancer surveillance." Frontiers in Surgery 8 (2021): 735868.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.