Suburban First to Offer New Gene Therapy Treatment for Bladder Cancer

Released: Monday, September 23, 2024 8:02 AM

Suburban First to Offer New Gene Therapy Treatment for Bladder Cancer

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH), in collaboration with WNY Urology Associates, is proud to be the first hospital in the area to begin offering Adstiladrin©, an innovative gene therapy treatment for bladder cancer.

Astiladrin is the first and only FDA-approved gene therapy delivered directly into the bladder for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The targeted treatment administered every three months, works with the body's immune cells to fight the cancer in the bladder only, and does not impact the whole body's immune system. An added patient benefit is the comfort and convenience of being provided under the care of their urologist.

"We are extremely proud to be the first in the area to offer bladder cancer patients this innovative treatment for NMIBC at Millard Suburban," said Kent Chevli, MD, FACS, site director of Urology at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and president, Western New York Urology & Cancer Care of WNY. "The effectiveness and minimal side effects seen during clinical trials are very promising. Being able to offer our patients access to this type of advanced cancer care and improved outcomes is truly remarkable."

Adstiladrin is recommended for adults who have high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer that meets the following criteria: no longer responding to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy, the cancer started in the bladder and has not spread, and is with or without papillary tumors (slender finger-like tumor growths) growing into the bladder space, away from the bladder wall.

The addition of Adstiladrin therapy option at MFSH is the result of well-coordinated efforts among the physicians at WNY Urology Associates, pharmacists and several other departments within the hospital and across Kaleida Health. Their hard work has paved the way for successful implementation and ensures that MFSH is fully equipped to provide this cutting-edge treatment to patients.