12 UROLOGY, URO-ONCOLOGY AND SEXOLOGY UPDATE The Development of Thermal Therapy for Bladder Cancer Part 2 Dr S Cornish Urologist Hyperthermia for bladder cancer treatment began a gradual process of acceptance from the 1980’s when the rst animal experiments were conducted in the laboratories. Some drugs have become associated with chemohyperthermia of supercial bladder cancer, and I will briey mention the history of intravesical chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for bladder cancer rst came to light in the early 1960’s when the drug Thiotepa, which is an organophosphate compound, was rst instilled into a bladder through a urethral catheter. The drug works as an alkylating agent binding to one of the DNA strands and preventing mitosis. It was developed by Cyanamid of the United States and registered in 1959. It is still used today to treat bladder cancer. Prior to this development agents such as podophyllum extract, phenol, and glycerin had been used intravesically with a modicum of success. Mitomycin C then came on the scene. It is derived from the Streptomyces bacteria and discovered in the 1950’s by Japanese scientists desperate to shake off the shackles of shame inicted by the WWII. Dr Kitasato, who went on to found the Kitasato Institute was principally interested in deriving new antibiotics akin to Alexander Fleming and his Penicillin. He employed Dr Hata who discovered Leucomycin, an antibiotic. Then three years later in 1956 Dr Hata discovered Mitomycin A and B. These two drugs had antibiotic and some anti-tumoral activity. Further analysis detected Mitomycin C in a more alkaline broth. This molecule had a high anti-tumour activity, and it went on to be registered for cancer therapy. Mitomycin C went on to become the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for bladder cancer treatment. His urological interests lie in cancer therapies and diagnosis, urinary incontinence, prostate enlargement therapy and fertility management. Kitasato Institute is now a part of the Kitasato University, but the original 1915 building has been brought and rebuilt in the Meijimura Museum, "an open-air museum for preserving and exhibiting Japanese architecture of the Meiji period
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