New Cochrane review on blue versus white light for transurethral resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer confirms beneficial effect of using blue light on risk of disease recurrence and progression

Oslo, Norway, 6 December 2021: Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), the Bladder Cancer Company, announces the recent publication of a systematic Cochrane review. Its objective was to assess the impact of blue light‐enhanced TURBT* compared to white light‐TURBT in the treatment of non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) in order to provide a stronger basis for decision-making, both for healthcare professionals and researchers. The review included 16 randomized clinical trials in 4325 patients and showed a beneficial effect of using blue light cystoscopy (BLC®) in reducing the risk of disease recurrence and progression.

Key findings of this Cochrane review show that use of blue light-enhanced TURBT in the diagnosis and treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer compared to white light-TURBT reduces the risk of disease recurrence (34% reduction in the likelihood of disease recurrence based on 15 trials), and disease progression (35% reduction in the likelihood of progression based on 9 trials). These results were most prominently observed in the high risk group for disease recurrence or progression. This group is the most likely to experience bladder tumor recurrence, accounts for approximately 25%1 of all newly diagnosed NMIBC cases, and proportionally have the most TURBT procedures.

This publication is a new and highly reputable Cochrane systematic review that is prepared using specific high-quality methodologies. Researchers conducting systematic reviews in accordance with the Cochrane guidelines use explicit, systematic methods that are selected with a view aimed at minimizing bias, to produce more reliable findings. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) is owned and produced by Cochrane, a global, independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, care givers, and people interested in health.

Read the full Cochrane review here

*TURBT: transurethral resection of bladder tumors

1 Hall MC, Chang SS, Dalbagni G, et al. Guideline for the management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (stages Ta, T1, and Tis): 2007 update.J Urol. 2007;178(6):2314-2330. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2007.09.003