Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Genitourinary Cancer Team treats adults with urologic cancers, including prostate, kidney and bladder. An additional type of cancer that comes under their care is urothelial cancer. This type of cancer is found in the lining of the urinary tract.
What is low-grade Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer?
A specific type of urothelial cancer is called Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer (UTUC) and is described as low-grade. “Low-grade” means the cancer is less aggressive and slow to spread. This rare cancer develops in the area where urine moves out of the kidney.
Until recently, kidney removal has been one of the standard methods to treat low-grade UTUC. Unfortunately, removing the kidney may have a major impact on a person’s overall health, including effecting blood pressure and causing heart disease.
A New Treatment
Now, there is a new treatment option for low-grade UTUC that is an alternative treatment to removing the kidney. JELMYTO® is a prescription medicine that can be prescribed to treat adults with low-grade UTUC.
FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
According to Richard Pazdur, MD, Director of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)’s Oncology Center of Excellence and Acting Director of the Office of Oncologic Diseases in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, JELMYTO is an exciting addition to treating this type of cancer. Many patients have needed to be treated with radical surgery (usually complete removal of the affected kidney, ureter and bladder cuff) due to substantial treatment challenges associated with the complex anatomy of the upper urinary tract. JELMYTO gives patients, for the first time, an alternative treatment option for low-grade UTUC.
How do patients receive JELMYTO?
- A JELMYTO dose is given by the healthcare provider once a week for six weeks.
- JELMYTO is injected into the kidney through a tube called a catheter, which is removed after each instillation.
- If the patient has a good response, he or she may undergo additional “maintenance” therapy.
- During treatment with JELMYTO, the healthcare provider may suggest additional medications or changes to current medications.
What are some side effects of JELMYTO?
Some common side effects may include: side pain, urinary tract infection, blood in the urine, kidney problems, tiredness, nausea, stomach pain, trouble with urination, vomiting, low red blood cell count, frequent urination, itching, chills and fever.
Potential serious side effects may include:
• Swelling and narrowing of the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder (ureteric obstruction)
• Bone marrow problems
For more information on treatment options for low-grade UTUC,
call the Genitourinary Cancer team at (631) 444-6270.