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MIBC is an aggressive disease, with many patients facing a poor prognosis1,2

Infographic: MIBC cases are expected to double by 2040, and approximately 50% of patients develop metastases within 3 years.

By 2040, the global incidence of MIBC is estimated to double to more than
1 million cases.1

Even after surgery, almost half of patients with MIBC progress to metastatic disease within 3 years of diagnosis.2

Infographic: MIBC cases are expected to double by 2040, and approximately 50% of patients develop metastases within 3 years.

Bladder cancer survival declines with each progression3

Bar chart showing relative 5-year survival rates for bladder cancer by disease stage, with the highest survival rates in in situ tumors and the lowest in metastatic disease.

*Patients with unknown staging had a 5-year relative survival of 52.7%.3

SEER 22, 2014–2020. Adapted from SEER.cancer.gov.

Poor patient outcomes: Progression to metastatic UC leads to a significant decline in the chance for long-term survival. The 5-year survival rate drops to 8.8% for patients with metastatic cancer compared with 71.7% for those with localised cancer.

Hear from a world-renowned urologist about the importance of treating MIBC with curative intent and the impact of a relapse.

MIBC is currently considered the last opportunity to treat with curative intent5

Illustration of bladder cancer progression from NMIBC to MIBC and ultimately to metastatic disease.
Illustration of bladder cancer progression from NMIBC to MIBC and ultimately to metastatic disease.

In order to optimise outcomes during this critical stage, all guideline-recommended treatment approaches should be thoroughly evaluated.

Due to the aggressive nature of MIBC, eligible patients can undergo radical cystectomy, which can be curative. However, this can also come at the cost of quality of life, sexual health, and overall well-being12,13

Illustration of a bladder as a symbol of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC)

What makes MIBC an aggressive disease?

Illustration of treatment options for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

What are the current treatment options and considerations for MIBC?

Illustration of an interdisciplinary treatment team for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Why is a collaborative approach essential in the treatment of MIBC?

M – metastasis; MIBC – muscle-invasive bladder cancer; N – node; NMIBC – non–muscle invasive bladder cancer; SEER – Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program; T – tumour; UC – urothelial carcinoma.

References: 1. Dyrskjøt L, Hansel D, Efstanthiou J, et al. Bladder cancer. Nat Rev Dise Primers 2023;9(58):58. 2. Tian J, Sun J, Fu G, et al. Population-based outcome of muscle-invasive bladder cancer following radical cystectomy: who can benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy? Transl Androl Urol 2021;10(1):356-73. 3. National Cancer Institute. Cancer stat facts: bladder cancer. https://seer.gov/statfacts/html/urinb.html. Accessed 15 March 2025. 4. Clinton T, Wiseman M, Walasek A, et al. Commentary: underutilization of curative-intent therapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer in Sweden mimics the United States. Transl Androl Urol 2019;8(suppl 5):S542-5. 5. Knowles MA, Hurst CD. Molecular biology of bladder cancer: new insights into pathogensis and clinical diversity. Nat Rev Cancer 2015;15(1):25-41. 6. Cancer Research UK. Symptoms of metastatic bladder cancer. 14 March 2023. Accessed 15 Match 2025. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bladder-cancer/metastatic/symptoms. 7. Bochner BH, Hansel DE, Efstanthiou JA, et al. Chapter 62. Urinary bladder. In: Amin MD, ed. AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. American College of Surgeons; 2016. Accessed 18 December 2024. https://online.statref.com/document/EOT96Vd-d0Ui6P3032L9wN. 8. Gontero P, Birtle A, Compérat E, et al.EAU Guidelines on non-muscle-invasive cancer (TaT1 and CIS). Published March 2025. Accessed 26 September 2025. https://uroweb.org/guidelines/non-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer. 9. Powles T, Bellmunt J, Compérat E, at al. Bladder cancer: ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol 2022;33(3):244-58. 10. Witjes JA, Bruins HM, Carrión A, et al. EAU Guidelines on muscle-invasive and metastatic bladder cancer. Published March 2025. Accessed 26 September 2025. https://uroweb.org/guidelines/muscle-invasive-and-metastatic-bladder-cancer. 11. Powles T, Bellmunt J, Compérat E, et al. ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline interim update on first-line therapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma. Ann Oncol 2024;35(6):485-90. 12. Esteban-Villarrubia J, Torres-Jiménez J, Bueno-Bravo C, Subiela JD, Gajate P. Current and future landscape of perioperative treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Cancers 2023;15(3):566. 13. Shi Y, Mathis B, He Y, Yang Z. the current progress and future options of multiple therapy and potential biomarkers for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Biomedicines 2013;11(2):539.