Bladder cancer accounts for just under 5% of all cancers and just over 3% of cancer deaths. Risk factors include cigarette smoking, occupational exposure to the class of chemicals known as aromatic amines, bladder infestation with the parasite Schistosoma haematobium, especially common in Egypt and Tanzania, and the immunosuppressant drug cyclophosphamide. The sensitivity of the bladder to toxicity from a variety of chemicals is explained by concentration of toxins within the urinary tract.
Kidney cancer accounts for 1.6% of all cancers and nearly 2% of cancer deaths. Kidney cancers are of three types: nephroblastomas (Wilms' tumours), adenocarcinomas (hypernephromas) and transitional and squamous cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis. The first category are limited to childhood and are of unknown aetiology, with the exception of a few of genetic origin. The second type constitute the majority of cases, are commoner in Western Europe and North America than in Africa and Asia, and are slowly increasing in incidence. There is a weak association with cigarette smoking. The third type constitutes around 10% of cases. Risk factors include occupational exposure to the chemicals causing bladder cancer, phenacetin ingestion (in sufficient quantities to cause analgesic nephropathy) and smoking. The increased risk is small. However, Balkan nephropathy, a form of chronic interstitial renal disease endemic in villages in parts of Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia, increases the risk of carcinoma of the renal pelvis several hundredfold. Toxins in the River Danube and genetic factors have been implicated as possible contributory factors.
Urothelial tumours affect 11000 men and women annually in England and Wales, and cause the death of 5300 people. Treatment with radiotherapy will cure 30% of patients but causes significant toxicity in 30%. We have developed non toxic chemotherapy programmes that are as effective as radiotherapy but without toxicity.
In a new study we will be examining the efficacy of a new gemcitabine based treatment programme.
In patients with relapsed bladder cancer we are about to start an investigation of liposomal packaged adriamycin, a treatment that we hope will have efficacy with minimal toxicity.
Kidney cancer accounts for 1.6% of all cancers and nearly 2% of cancer deaths. Kidney cancers are of three types: nephroblastomas (Wilms' tumours), adenocarcinomas (hypernephromas) and transitional and squamous cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis. The first category are limited to childhood and are of unknown aetiology, with the exception of a few of genetic origin. The second type constitute the majority of cases, are commoner in Western Europe and North America than in Africa and Asia, and are slowly increasing in incidence. There is a weak association with cigarette smoking. The third type constitutes around 10% of cases. Risk factors include occupational exposure to the chemicals causing bladder cancer, phenacetin ingestion (in sufficient quantities to cause analgesic nephropathy) and smoking. The increased risk is small. However, Balkan nephropathy, a form of chronic interstitial renal disease endemic in villages in parts of Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia, increases the risk of carcinoma of the renal pelvis several hundredfold. Toxins in the River Danube and genetic factors have been implicated as possible contributory factors.
Urothelial tumours affect 11000 men and women annually in England and Wales, and cause the death of 5300 people. Treatment with radiotherapy will cure 30% of patients but causes significant toxicity in 30%. We have developed non toxic chemotherapy programmes that are as effective as radiotherapy but without toxicity.
In a new study we will be examining the efficacy of a new gemcitabine based treatment programme.
In patients with relapsed bladder cancer we are about to start an investigation of liposomal packaged adriamycin, a treatment that we hope will have efficacy with minimal toxicity.
No comments:
Post a Comment