Urinary drug disposing system for treatments of kidney and bladder cancers

Active Research Project
Investigator(s): 
Benedict Law, Ph.D.
Last Updated: 
June 14, 2022

Most bladder cancer (BC) patients are diagnosed at an early stage. The standard treatment involves surgically removing tumors, followed by intravesical immunotherapy (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) or chemotherapy (ITC) to eradicate any residual cancer cells. However, current ITC methods are limited, with incomplete treatment, poor patient compliance, and a high recurrence rate. Furthermore, clinicians sometimes find it necessary to remove the kidney and ureter, even in cases of less aggressive cancers (Fig. 4). Peptides, being rapidly cleared by renal processes, can be advantageous when utilized as a drug carrier for directing therapy to the urinary system. Our research focuses on developing a urinary drug-disposing platform to provide a more complete and effective treatment outcome (Fig. 5, PMID: 35039320). The advantages of such a delivery system include maintaining a continuous drug flow throughout the entire urinary system, prolonging treatment duration, and minimizing invasiveness.

Weill Cornell Medicine
Department of Radiology
525 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065