Bladder cancer: a review of clinical management and prognostic factors

Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease that offers a unique challenge for the patient and the physician as treatment paradigms are continually evolving. There are multiple factors that can influence how each individual is treated, including lymphovascular invasion, micropapillary histology, and p53 nuclear accumulation which have demonstrated a worse prognosis in patients with bladder cancer. They can influence the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, which in itself can affect the timing of extirpative surgery. This review will focus on the contemporary management and treatment of bladder cancer focusing on areas of clinical decision making.