Top Genitourinary Cancer Stories From September to Know

As September concludes, the landscape of genitourinary (GU) oncology continues to evolve, with important developments in prostate, bladder, kidney and other GU cancers shaping patient care and clinical practice. Recent research, clinical insights and patient experiences highlight advancements across the oncology landscape, reflecting a broader shift toward personalized and patient-centered care.

Updates this month include breakthroughs in early detection, refinements in minimally invasive surgery, and progress in immunotherapy and targeted therapies. These stories demonstrate how innovations in care are improving survival outcomes while also enhancing quality of life for patients with GU cancers.

Read on for a closer look at five essential updates that span the gamut of GU cancer.

Understanding Genitourinary (GU) Cancers: Types, Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Genitourinary cancers affect organs of the urinary and male reproductive systems, including the kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, testes, and penis. While prostate cancer is the most common, other GU cancers such as renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer and testicular cancer require individualized treatment plans based on type, stage and patient health.

Diagnosis typically involves imaging tests like CT scans, MRI, or ultrasound, combined with biopsy to confirm cancer type. For bladder cancer, cystoscopy is often used to inspect the bladder lining, while blood and urine tests provide additional diagnostic information. Treatment is highly personalized and may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

Dr. John L. Gore notes that combining therapies with complementary mechanisms of action can improve survival and quality of life, particularly in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

“Combining traditional chemotherapies with drugs that block cancer cells escape mechanisms that allow them to evade our immune system was associated with better survival in bladder cancer that invades the outer muscle layer of the bladder [for example],” he noted.

What to Know About Early-Stage Urothelial Carcinoma

Stage 1 urothelial carcinoma, the most common form of bladder cancer, is highly treatable but requires careful management. The primary intervention is typically transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), often followed by intravesical therapy such as chemotherapy or Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy to prevent recurrence.

Dr. Murugesan Manoharan emphasizes the role of surveillance, multidisciplinary care, and patient education, and emphasizes several key questions patients should ask their care team following a diagnosis.

1. Does the facility have a multidisciplinary team and a tumor board?
2. Does the facility have access to clinical trials?
3. Does the provider have access to the latest technological advancements?
4. Is there a patient support group available?

Understanding Recent Treatment Advancements in Kidney Cancer Care

Kidney cancer treatment has evolved significantly, particularly in the use of minimally invasive and robotic surgeries. Dr. Ravi Munver, of Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, in New Jersey, describes how partial nephrectomy, guided by advanced imaging and three-dimensional modeling, allows surgeons to remove tumors while preserving healthy kidney tissue.

In addition, targeted therapies and immunotherapies are transforming outcomes for patients with advanced or metastatic disease. These treatments offer the potential for longer survival with fewer side effects compared with traditional chemotherapy, marking a paradigm shift in the management of kidney cancers.

Early Prostate Cancer Detection: Why PSA Screening Matters

Early detection remains key to successful prostate cancer management. Dr. Paul Gellhaus highlights how PSA testing, combined with modern biopsy techniques, enables clinicians to identify cancers before symptoms arise, improving long-term prognosis. Despite patient concerns about discomfort or unnecessary intervention, early screening allows for timely and less invasive treatment, offering reassurance and potentially life-saving interventions.

“I think there's a lot of fear [when seeing a urologist]. [Patients] don't want to find something, because if they find something, then they have to treat it... The process is uncomfortable, embarrassing, maybe painful. However, the reality is, it's kind of like going to the dentist — you got to get it done; otherwise, you're going to get a cavity, and it's going to be worse,” he explains in an interview with CURE.

References

1. “What Are Genitourinary Cancers, and How Are They Treated?,” by Alex Biese. CURE; Sept. 5, 2025. https://www.curetoday.com/view/what-are-genitourinary-cancers-and-how-are-they-treated-
2. “What to Know About Early-Stage Urothelial Carcinoma,” by Alex Biese. CURE; Sept. 25, 2025. https://www.curetoday.com/view/what-to-know-about-early-stage-urothelial-carcinoma
3. “Understanding Recent Treatment Advancements in Kidney Cancer Care,” by Ryan Scott. CURE; Sept. 22, 2025.
4. “Early Prostate Cancer Detection: Why PSA Screening Matters,” by Dr. Paul Gellhaus. CURE; Sept. 2, 2025. https://www.curetoday.com/view/early-prostate-cancer-detection-why-psa-screening-matters

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