A Review of Molecular Predictors of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer

Locally advanced, muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (MIBC) may be definitively treated with either radiotherapy or radical cystectomy (RC) with urinary diversion. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is typically administered prior to treatment with either modality. Receiving NAC prior to RC might confer a survival advantage compared to undergoing RC alone. However, its usefulness has been questioned due to concerns about over treatment and toxicity. Having the ability to predict whether individual patients would benefit from or be harmed by NAC would be an important tool in precision medicine. Unfortunately, to date no prognostic or predictive molecular markers have been validated for this purpose. In this manuscript, we review the current state of molecular markers in MIBC treatment and outline how recent advances in whole-genome sequencing may soon improve the selection of precisely targeted therapeutics for the benefit of individual patients.