Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to Improve Bladder Cancer Staging and Treatment Decision-making

The therapeutic approach to bladder cancer is strongly dependent on tumor stage and grade. Patients with non-muscle-invasive tumors (NMIBC) are usually treated with surgical resection of the tumor alone, whereas patients with muscle-invasive tumors (MIBC) ideally undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) and subsequent cystectomy. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is emerging as a new staging modality, given its non-invasiveness and excellent soft tissue contrast. However, more advanced multiparametric MRI techniques are yet to be comprehensively investigated in patients with bladder cancer. Recently, genetic characteristics of bladder tumors have been identified that show significant impact on response rates to neoadjuvant treatment. The combination of new multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) techniques and genetic analyses of the tumor might allow for a better assessment of the expected clinical course of the disease and support more personalized treatment approaches.