The efficacy of Apaziquone in the treatment of bladder cancer.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Bladder cancer is nowadays a common tumor. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) has still chances of recurrence and progression in spite of surgery and adjuvant treatments. New therapies are being developed to reduce these percentages with less adverse effects - Apaziquone (EO9) is an example. Areas covered A literature search has been performed using Pubmed, UpToDate and Google verified information (mainly from Food and Drug Administration and Spectrum Pharmaceutics websites). We have included data from the most representative clinical trials and reviews published. Expert opinion Apaziquone is considered a promising chemical agent if applied intravesically due mainly to its pharmacodynamics and safety profile. There is evidence for this with respect to adjuvant chemo ablative therapy and as a post-transurethral resection of bladder (TURB) single-dose regimen. As a result, new clinical phase III trials are needed both to evaluate its efficacy as an adjuvant therapy in the spectrum from intermediate- to high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and to select the most appropriate candidates and treatment schedule. As a conclusion, Apaziquone is a good candidate to become a better alternative as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of NMIBC in the near future.