Search
What are you looking for?
Start main content

Press Releases

Press Releases

https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-study-demonstrates-a-significant-benefit-from-en-bloc-resection-of-bladder-tumours-in-reducing-tumour-recurrence-over-conventional-transurethral-resection
https://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/cuhk-study-demonstrates-a-significant-benefit-from-en-bloc-resection-of-bladder-tumours-in-reducing-tumour-recurrence-over-conventional-transurethral-resection

CUHK study demonstrates a significant benefit from en bloc resection of bladder tumours in reducing tumour recurrence over conventional transurethral resection

The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) has conducted the world’s first randomised clinical trial that demonstrates a significant benefit from en bloc resection of bladder tumour (ERBT) in reducing tumour recurrence, compared with conventional transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT). Study results showed that using ERBT reduced the one-year recurrence rate of bladder tumours from 38% to 29%. After adjusting for patient and disease factors, the risk of cancer recurrence in patients receiving ERBT is 40% lower than that in those receiving TURBT.
 

This study is a milestone in proving ERBT can be the first-line surgical treatment for bladder cancer patients with a non-muscle-invasive tumour of 3cm or smaller. Details of the study have been published in the prestigious international journal European Urology.

 

Dr Jeremy Teoh performs a mock demonstration of ERBT.

Dr Jeremy Teoh performs a mock demonstration of ERBT, by using a cystoscope to enter the bladder through the urethra and resect the bladder tumour in one piece.  

En bloc resection minimises the risk of tumour seeding compared with conventional resection

 

Bladder cancer is a major urological disease and among the top 10 most common cancers in the world. About 75% of bladder cancer patients present with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer with a tumour size about 3cm or smaller. TURBT is the conventional standard resection, which involves using a cystoscope to enter the bladder through the urethra, and then resecting the bladder tumour in a piecemeal manner. However, this kind of resection results in floating tumour cells, which can reimplant on the bladder wall and lead to cancer recurrence. Tumour specimens are also fragmented and it is not possible to assess the resection margin. Whether complete resection can be achieved or not depends on the surgeon’s expertise.

 

ERBT has been proposed as an alternative technique for treating non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The chance of cancer recurrence after ERBT could be reduced, as the tumour is removed in one piece and the risk of cancer cell reimplantation is low. Complete tumour resection can be ascertained by cell examination under a microscope, while clear resection margins can be achieved in 94 to 99% of cases, according to previous studies. 

 

Dr Jeremy Teoh

Dr Jeremy Teoh states that the newly published randomised clinical trial demonstrates the clinical benefits of ERBT, supporting it as the first-line surgical treatment for bladder cancer patients with non-muscle-invasive tumours of 3cm or smaller.

In this multicentre study, 350 bladder cancer patients from 13 hospitals in Hong Kong were randomly assigned to receive ERBT or TURBT at a 1:1 ratio. The tumour size of all participants was 3cm or smaller. Using statistical analysis, the cancer recurrence rate was 29% in the ERBT group after receiving treatment for one year, which is significantly lower than the 38% recurrence rate in the TURBT group. Similarly, the rate of one-year progression from non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer to muscle-invasive bladder cancer dropped from 2.6% in the TURBT group to 0% in the ERBT group.

 

A milestone in proving that ERBT can be the first-line surgical treatment

 

Dr Jeremy Teoh Yuen-chun, Associate Professor in the Division of Urology at CU Medicine’s Department of Surgery, stated, “In 2020, we carried out a very comprehensive review of the scientific evidence regarding ERBT and developed a consensus statement that provides guidance for healthcare professionals who practise it. Through this newly published randomised clinical trial, we can show the clinical benefits of ERBT, which support it as the first-line surgical treatment for bladder cancer patients with non-muscle-invasive tumours of 3cm or smaller.”

Professor Ng Chi-fai

Professor Ng Chi-fai remarks that seriously ill patients with bladder cancer, whose tumours have invaded the muscle layer, may need to remove the whole bladder through traditional surgery.

Professor Ng Chi-fai, Tzu Leung Ho Professor of Urology in the Department of Surgery at CU Medicine, added, “The multicentre setting of our study demonstrates the generalisability of ERBT across different surgeons and centres. With proper surgical training and education, this new form of surgical technique can be effectively disseminated, translating our study results into clinical benefits for bladder cancer patients.”

 

For more detailed information, please refer to the full study:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0302283824023212

 

 

More Press Releases

Study led by CUHK shows robotic-assisted bladder removal with intracorporeal urinary diversion reduces blood loss and enhances post-operative recovery

Study led by CUHK shows robotic-assisted bladder removal with intracorporeal urinary diversion reduces blood loss and enhances post-operative recovery

Research
CU Medicine Studies Highlight Smoking as a Contributing Factor for Bladder Cancer and  Develop an International Collaborative Consensus on En Bloc Resection to Treat the Disease

CU Medicine Studies Highlight Smoking as a Contributing Factor for Bladder Cancer and Develop an International Collaborative Consensus on En Bloc Resection to Treat the Disease

Research
CUHK and HKBU Launch Spermine Risk Score for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

CUHK and HKBU Launch Spermine Risk Score for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Research
CUHK Identifies Outcome Indicators for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients Receiving Prostatic Artery Embolisation

CUHK Identifies Outcome Indicators for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients Receiving Prostatic Artery Embolisation

Research
CU Medicine Survey Shows Global Urological Services have been Significantly Deferred due to COVID-19 Pandemic

CU Medicine Survey Shows Global Urological Services have been Significantly Deferred due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Research
CUHK Successfully Conducted the World’s First Multi-Specialty Clinical Trial Using the Next Generation Single Port Robotic Surgical System

CUHK Successfully Conducted the World’s First Multi-Specialty Clinical Trial Using the Next Generation Single Port Robotic Surgical System

Surgical advancement
CUHK Opens S.H. Ho Urology Centre to Promote Earlier Diagnosis and Management of Prostate Cancer to the Territory

CUHK Opens S.H. Ho Urology Centre to Promote Earlier Diagnosis and Management of Prostate Cancer to the Territory

Clinical service
CUHK Assessed and Treated Over 300 Young Ketamine Abusers with Urinary Tract Dysfunction Latest Research Reveals Effectiveness of Integrated Anti-inflammatory Therapy

CUHK Assessed and Treated Over 300 Young Ketamine Abusers with Urinary Tract Dysfunction Latest Research Reveals Effectiveness of Integrated Anti-inflammatory Therapy

Research
CU Medicine finds benign prostatic hyperplasia patients suffer from up to five times the risk of urological complications after COVID-19 infection

CU Medicine finds benign prostatic hyperplasia patients suffer from up to five times the risk of urological complications after COVID-19 infection

Research
CUHK introduces a new modular robotic surgery system in the Greater China region Initial trials in radical prostatectomy show satisfactory outcomes

CUHK introduces a new modular robotic surgery system in the Greater China region Initial trials in radical prostatectomy show satisfactory outcomes

Surgical advancement
Results of the First 3,500 Participants of the CUHK Jockey Club Multi-Cancer Prevention Programme Demonstrate that “One-stop Multi-Cancer Screening” is Effective

Results of the First 3,500 Participants of the CUHK Jockey Club Multi-Cancer Prevention Programme Demonstrate that “One-stop Multi-Cancer Screening” is Effective

Health Campaign
World’s First Large-scale Epidemiological Survey on Adolescents by CUHK Reveals Abuse of Methamphetamine Associated with Increased Risk of Developing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

World’s First Large-scale Epidemiological Survey on Adolescents by CUHK Reveals Abuse of Methamphetamine Associated with Increased Risk of Developing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Clinical service
CUHK’s New Prostatic Artery Embolization Shows 90% Success Rate in Relieving Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

CUHK’s New Prostatic Artery Embolization Shows 90% Success Rate in Relieving Symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Clinical service
CUHK's Youth Urological Treatment Centre Opens Today Territory's First Centre to Provide Urological Assessment and Treatment to Young Drug Abusers

CUHK's Youth Urological Treatment Centre Opens Today Territory's First Centre to Provide Urological Assessment and Treatment to Young Drug Abusers

Donation
CUHK Discovers Drug Dosage Brings Negative Impact on Bladder Function among Young People

CUHK Discovers Drug Dosage Brings Negative Impact on Bladder Function among Young People

Research

Our Expert List

Many experts under the Faculty of Medicine are available for media interview.
Please click here for the expert list or contact us.