Scientists from Vienna have discovered that a drug used to treat childhood leukemia can be used to treat two types of bladder cancer. The study, published in the European Journal of Urology, found that the drug clofarabine was particularly effective in treating bladder cancer.
Study author Iris Ertel stated, "We found that clofarabine led to complete healing in mice with conventional urothelial carcinoma, while in animals with sarcomatoid carcinoma, it caused a significant and sustained shrinkage of tumors without causing any apparent side effects."
The next step of the study is to conduct trials on humans, and if successful, it could help save many lives.
Like other types of cancer, bladder cancer has numerous symptoms to watch for, including:
- Blood in urine
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Burning sensation during urination
If the cancer has spread, additional symptoms may include pelvic and bone pain, unintentional weight loss, and swelling in the legs.
The UK Cancer Research Foundation states that less than half of bladder cancer cases can be prevented. The National Health Service indicates that cancer is "often linked to exposure to certain chemicals." Other risk factors include radiation therapy, previous chemotherapy treatments, type 2 diabetes treatments, chronic urinary tract infections, long-term bladder stones, and untreated infections known as schistosomiasis, according to the British newspaper Express.
